Suffrage

Pronunciation

UK IPA: /ËˆsÊŒfÉ¹ÉªdÊ’/

Origin

From Middle English "prayers or pleas on behalf of another", from Old French, from Medieval Latin suffragium, from Latin suffragium ("support, vote, right of voting"). The sense of "vote" or "right to vote" was directly derived from classical Latin.

Full definition of suffrage

Noun

suffrage

(usually uncountable; plural suffrages)

(uncountable) The right or chance to vote, express an opinion, or participate in a decision.
(countable) A vote in deciding a particular question.

1833, Henry Clay, Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856, But the President himself says that " upon him has been devolved, by the constitution, and the suffrages of the American people, the duty of superintending the operation of the executive departments of the Government,
1822, Edward Wynne, William Meechan Bythewood, Eunomus: or, Dialogues concerning the law and constitution of England, Hence, by rendering the suffrages secret in the Roman republic, all was lost; it was no longer possible to direct a populace that sought its own destruction

The right to vote for elected officials in a representative democracy.universal suffrage, women's suffrage, negro suffrage
(US) The right of women to vote.
(countable, Christianity) A prayer, for example a prayer offered for the faithful dead.

unknown date Creed of Pope Pius IVI firmly believe that there is a purgatory, and that the souls therein detained are helped by the suffrages of the faithful.
1969, G. J. Cuming, A history of Anglican liturgy, As these holy prayers and suffrages following are set forth of most godly zeal for edifying and stirring of devotion of all true faithful Christian hearts ...
2006 , John E. Curran , Hamlet, Protestantism, and the Mourning of Contingency: Not to Be , In explaining and defending suffrages for the dead, Catholic argument repeatedly involved the assumption of the importance of time.

(countable, Christianity) A short petition, as those after the creed in matins and evensong.

1904, John Newton McCormick, The litany and the life: a series of studies in the litany ..., Lastly, in this suffrage, we intercede for prisoners and captives; we "remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them."

(uncountable) Aid, intercession.
Testimony; attestation; witness; approval.

AtterburyLactantius and St. Austin confirm by their suffrage the observation made by heathen writers.
SouthEvery miracle is the suffrage of Heaven to the truth of a doctrine.

Synonyms

(right to vote) franchise