suffrage (sufraj)

[F. suffrage = Sp. su It. suffragio, ing, a decision, judgment, esp. a favorable decision, approbation; prob. connected with suf fra go, hock-bone, also a shoot or spray, and orig., it is conjectured, a broken piece, as a potsherd, used in voting (cf. ostracism, a kind of voting so called from the use of shells or potsherds); Frage, saxifrage.] 1. A vote or voice given in deciding a controverted question, or in the choice of a person to occupy an office or trust; the formal expre ion of an opinion on some doubtful question; consent; a ent; approval. There doe they give their suffrages and voyces for the election of the Magistrates. Coryat, Crudities, I. 253. We bow to beg your suffrage and kind ear. Fletcher , Humorous Lieutenant, Prol. I know, if it were put to the question of theirs and mine, the worse would find more suffrages . B. Jonson, Alchemist, To the Reader. 2. The political right or act of voting; the exercise of the voting power in political affairs; especially, the right, under a representative government, of participating, directly or indirectly, in the choice of public officers and in the ed to all male citizens who are of age, and are not physical ceremonies in incantation. Sorcere es That usen exorsisaciouns And eke subfumygaciouns . Chaucer, House of Fame, 1. 1264. A simple suffumigation,.. accompanied by availing ourselves of the suitable planetary hour. Scott, Antiquary, xxii. 3. A fume; especially, a preparation used in fumigating. As the suffumigations of the oppre ed stomach surge up and cause the headache. Rev. T. Adams, Works, I. 204. Another piebald knave Of the same brotherhood (he loved them ever) Was actively preparing 'neath his nose Such a suffumigation as, once fired, Had stunk the patient dead ere he could groan. Browning , Para cels us. gari, LL. also suffragare, vote for, support with one's vote, support, favor, a ist,