Etymologically
Log in

suffragor

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 20 October 2026 at 14:09. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Forms

suffrāgor (present infinitive suffrāgārī, perfect active suffrāgātus sum); first conjugation, deponent[1][2] An active form suffrāgō, suffrāgāre is found in Pomponius, Sisenna and the land surveyor Hyginus.[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin suffrāgium (“vote, support”), under which de Vaan lists it;[3][2] the OLD calls it of doubtful origin and sets it against its opposite refrāgor (“to oppose”).[1] De Vaan assumes a verb or noun ⟨*sub-frāg-⟩ “support” behind the whole group, which may belong to frangō (“to break”), perhaps as “shout in support of a candidate”, with the long vowel explained by analogy; he rejects Szemerényi's derivation from a root meaning “hind part”.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan records it first in Sisenna,[3][4] who uses the active form of peoples who dictaturam omnibus animis et studiis suffragaverunt, “supported the dictatorship with all their hearts and zeal”.[1]

Semantic evolution

It begins as a term of public life: to vote or canvass for a candidate, a measure or an appointment, usually with a dative, as in Cicero's speech for Murena and in Livy.[1][2] Of influential people it means to back someone, as Hortensius backs Cicero's opponent in the Divinatio in Caecilium.[1] It widened to lending support in general: Cicero has fortuna suffragante, “with fortune favouring”, and Caesar, Columella and Quintilian use it of circumstances, the weather or a good voice that help.[1][2] In Ecclesiastical Latin it means to vote for, approve, support, aid or recommend.[5]

Timeline

  • 120–67 BC – Sisenna uses the active form of supporting a dictatorship.[1][3][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of voting and canvassing, and of fortune's favour.[1][4]
  • 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of crowds who came to vote.[1][4]
  • c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian has it of a voice that helps delivery.[1][4]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To vote or canvass for a candidate, measure or appointment; to express public support.[1][2]
  2. Of influential people, to back, support, recommend.[1][5]
  3. Of fortune or circumstances, to lend support, be favourable.[1][2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  2. ^ a b c d e f Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  3. ^ a b c d de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson