suffragium Latin · revision 709

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [sʊfˈfraː.ɡi.ũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [sufˈfraː.d͡ʒi.um]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''suffrāgium''' ''n'' (genitive suffrāgiī or suffrāgī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from a verb *sub-frāgere or a noun *sub-frāg-o- “support”, the base of [[suffragor|alt=suffrāgārī]] “to support (a candidate)”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Since its oldest senses concern voting, de Vaan finds it plausible, with Vaahtera, that it belongs to [[frango|alt=frangere]] “to break”, as “shouting in support”, with the long ''ā'' explained by analogy, while Etymonline and Georges think of [[fragor]] “din, shouts”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Etymonline)^(Georges 1913) Szemerényi's derivation from a word for the tail-bone, with a shift from “support under the hind part” to political support, de Vaan finds too fanciful.^(de Vaan 2008) Lewis and Short connected it with [[suffrago|alt=suffrāgō]] “hock”.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Plautus onwards,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) who speaks of an office won by the people's [[m|en|vote]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word meant a vote cast in an assembly, as in ''suffragium ferre'' “to cast one's vote”, and the act or process of voting.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It meant the right to vote and a decision reached by voting, and more generally approval, as when Ovid thanks a friend for his praise.^(OLD 2012) Under the emperors it came to mean the influence used on behalf of a candidate, a recommendation.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Late Latin used it for help and support of any kind, and Christian writers for the intercession of a saint and for prayers said within a community.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Stelten 1995) Medieval texts also use it for maintenance, tribute and a church province.^(Niermeyer 1976) English borrowed it as [[en|suffrage]] in the late 14th century, first meaning “intercessory prayer”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus mentions office gained by the people's vote.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro describes votes being sorted at an election.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero discusses secret and open voting.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it for the emperor's recommendation of a candidate.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * Middle Ages – It means the intercession of a saint and a church province.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+ * late 14th century – English borrows it as [[en|suffrage]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|vote]] cast in an assembly, ''suffragium ferre'': to vote.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # The act of voting.^(OLD 2012)

+ # The right to vote.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A decision reached by voting.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Approval, applause.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Influence on behalf of a candidate, recommendation; help.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' The intercession of a saint; a prayer in a prayer community.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Maintenance; tribute; a church province.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[suffrāgor]]

+ * [[suffrāgātor]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[frangō]]

+ * [[en|suffrage]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}