philately

[Etym, doubtful, said to be from Gr. philos =loving, and ateleia =freedom from tax; or the second element may be telos a tax, and regarding the stamp as the symbol of a tax or toll paid, philately a love of stamps.] The collection of postage-stamps, especially those of foreign i ues, as objects of curiosity or study. phil-a-tor-ỹ, s. [Prob. a corrupt. of phylactery (q.v.).) Eccles .: A transparent reliquary placed horizontally upon four feet, and used to exhibit relics of saints, . Sometimes it is made of metal, with figures representing the event in a saint's life by which he is chiefly remembered. The top is ornamented. *phil-âu-ty *phil-au-tie, *phil-âu-ti-a (tas sh), s. [Gr. philautia , from philos -loving, and autos =self.] 1. Self-love; the love of what is personal to one; selfishne . IMG:content-0989.png:[blocks in formation] Works, i. 157. philéma a ki .] Phi-lê-măn, s. [Gr. Philemon , apparently from Scrip. Biog .: A member of the Colo i an church (cf. Col. ii. 7; iv. 9, 11, 14, with Phil. 2, 10, 23, 24). [1.] The Epistle of Paul to Philemon : New Test. Canon: An epistle of Paul, in conjunc tion with Timothy (i. 1.), to Philemon, whose runaway slave, Onesimus, had come to Rome, and been converted by the Apostle, while the latter was a prisoner (1.10), and advanced in years (9). Onesimus was most useful to his spiritual father (13), who, however, would not retain him, unle with his master's permi ion (14). He, therefore, sent him back, carrying the epistle with him, and counseling Philemon to receive him back, not now in a servile capacity, but as a brother beloved (16). Anticipating his speedy release, he also requested Philemon to prepare him a lodging (22). The epistle seems to have been written in A. D. 63 or 64, and to have been sent with the Epistle to the Colo i ans. Its genuinene is generally admitted. phi-lê-şi-a, s . [Gr. philēsis the act of loving, affection. So called from the beauty of the flowers.] Bot . The typical genus of the Philesiaceæ (q.v.). The only species, Philesia burifolia , a small evergreen shrub, is from the southern part of South America.