Pseph-

Pronunciation

• RP enPR: psÄ“f—, IPA: /psiːf—/, /psÉ›f—/
• US enPR: psÄ“f—, IPA: /psif—/

Origin

From the Ancient Greek ψῆφος ("pebble"); the later, electoral sense stems from the ancient Athenian method of voting by putting a pebble in a ballot box (for which sense see psephisma and psephophoria).

Full definition of pseph-

Prefix

1. pebble, small stone
2. voting, election; ballot box

Usage notes

When combined with a word or another affix which begins with a consonant, this prefix concatenates with the interfix -o- (as psepho-).

Of the pronunciations in use, is the most etymologically consistent.

Derived terms

Related terms