Also 5 souffrage, sofrage, 6 Sc. sufferagh, 6–7 sufferage, 7 suff’rage. [ad. L. suffrāgium, partly through F. suffrage (from 13th c.). Cf. It., Pg. suffragio, Sp. sufragio. An earlier anglicization of the L. pl. is SUFFRAGIES.]
1. collect. pl. and sing. Prayers, esp. intercessory prayers, intercessions. arch.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 303. In alle þise wordis ben feyned of gostliche suffrage wiþ-oute grounde.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), I. 431. Vn til thei aske the suffrage and helpe of Seynte Wenefride.
c. 1450. Godstow Reg., 182. In massys, in matyns, in oþer owrys, suffrages, almys, fastynges.
1513. Bradshaw, St. Werburge, I. 3259. Also by her merite, suffrage and peticion Euery humble creature had helpe and succour.
1553. Becon, Reliques of Rome (1563), 197*. The Suffrages and sacrifices of the Masse.
1602. Warner, Alb. Eng., XIII. lxxvii. Not tedious suffrages they ask’t, nor Sacrifices strate.
1660. Wood, Life (O.H.S.), I. 345. The chappell being onlie for privat or secret suffrages.
1681. Burnet, Hist. Ref., II. I. 64. That the Sacrifice might bring to them a greater Indulgence, being offered up by the Suffrages of the Saint.
1865. Kingsley, Herew., i. Of what use to you then the suffrages of the saints?
1904. M. Hewlett, Queen’s Quair, I. viii. 110. The Queen was at prayers—which is more than can be said for the priest who should have lifted up her suffrages.
b. spec. Prayers for the souls of the departed: esp. in phr. to do suffrage. arch.
c. 1440. Alphabet of Tales, 58. He … garte do message & oders prayers & suffrage of halie kurk for hym.
c. 1450. Godstow Reg., 206. So þat þey scholde haue in mynde the sowlys Afore in alle here prayeris suffrages & benefettes for euer.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 348/2. That generalle Suffrages temporal myght be done for them.
1521. Extr. Burgh Recs. Stirling, 14 Oct. (1887), 13. Twa markis of obit silver … for sufferagh to be doun for the saullis of wmquhill Allexander lord Elphinstoun and Sir Johen Elphinstoun, his fader.
c. 1554. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. I. 87. To do suffrage for the sawll of the deid.
1584. R. Scot, Discov. Witchcr., XV. xxii. 434. Whose soule art thou?… Wantest thou any suffrages, masses, or almes?
1596. R. H., trans. Lavaterus’ Ghostes & Spir., 107. Whether he require any aide by prayers and suffrages?
1848. K. H. Digby, Broad Stone Hon., III. Morus, 280. Their prayers and suffrages for the dead.
† c. phr. Suffrages of prayers; cf. med.L. orationis suffragium, OF. suffrages d’oroisons. Obs.
The original sense was prob. ‘help given by (intercessory) prayer’: cf. sense 2.
1447. in Anstey, Epist. Acad. Oxon. (O.H.S.), I. 261. We commend us unto ȝowr goode lordschipe wt the gostly suffrages of oure prayers.
c. 1613. in Cath. Rec. Soc. Publ. (1914), XIV. 34. We humbly request the Suffrages of your Devout Prayers of Charity.
d. pl. Liturgical intercessory petitions; esp. in the Book of Common Prayer, (a) the intercessory petitions pronounced by the priest in the Litany (also sing., any one of these); (b) a series of petitions pronounced by the priest with the answers of the people, a set of versicles and responses.
Also by some writers (see quots. 1657, 1732, 1796) used for a responsive petition (or response to a versicle, etc.).
1532. Elyot, Lett., in Gov. (1880), I. p. lxxix. [In Germany] the Preest [at mass] in vestmentes after oure manner singith everi thing in Latino as we use, omitting suffrages.
1548–9. (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Evensong. Then the suffrages before assigned at Matins. Ibid., Litany. The Letany and Suffrages.
1587. Harrison, England, II. i. 138/1, in Holinshed. After morning praier also we haue the letanie and suffrages.
1657. Sparrow, Bk. Com. Prayer, 95. These Forms of prayers, (where the peoples devotion is so often excited … by continual Suffrages, such as Good Lord deliver us; We beseech thee to hear us good Lord) were called ἐκτενεῖς δεήσεις, earnest or intense Petitions.
1662. Bk. Com. Prayer, Form of Prayer, 5 Nov. In the Suffrages after the Creed, these shall be inserted and used for the King.
1697. J. Lewis, Mem. Dk. Glocester (1789), 78. He … would answer very properly at prayers, in the Suffrages and different parts of the Liturgy.
1714. Order in Council, 1 Aug. in Lond. Gaz., No. 5247/3. In the Suffrages next after the Creed, instead of Queen read King.
1732. Neal, Hist. Purit., I. 54. They compiled a Litany consisting of many short petitions interrupted by Suffrages.
1796. Pegge, Anonym. (1809), 145. Tu autem … is the beginning of the suffrage, which was supposed to follow the reading of the Scripture, which the reading scholar was to continue, by saying, Miserere mei, Domine.
1855. Procter, Bk. Com. Prayer, 255. After the suffrage for the Church, those for the ecclesiastical orders usually come first.
1882–3. Schaff’s Encycl. Relig. Knowl., II. 1327. A brief litany, in which the people continually respond to the various suffrages, ‘Lord, have mercy upon us.’
1885. Pall Mall Gaz., 23 May, 7/2. Installation of the Dean of Gloucester…. The Bishop then said some suffrages.
1885. Dixon, Hist. Ch. Eng., III. 496. The Suffrages which the clerks were wont to sing in the time of the communion [viz. the Agnus Dei, etc.].
transf. 1701. Norris, Ideal World, I. ii. 35. This great and solemn suffrage of the adorable Trinity, Let us make man.
† 2. Help, support, assistance. Also, one who helps, a support. Obs.
c. 1460. Promp. Parv., 483/2. K., P. Suffrage, or helpe, suffragium.
c. 1480. Henryson, Orpheus & Eurydice, 174. And had noucht bene throu suffrage of his harp, Wyth scharp pikis he had bene schorne & schent.
1513. Bradshaw, St. Werburge, I. 420. Moost blessed Werburge … Our synguler suffrage, and sterre of our clerenes. Ibid., 3055. Than she requyred with humylyte The spyrytuall sufferage of holy vnccyon.
1528. Roy, Rede me (Arb.), 86. Thorowe his passion, For vs he made satisfaccion, Withoute eny mans suffrage.
1613. R. C., Table Alph., Suffrage, consent, or voyce, or helpe.
3. orig. A vote given by a member of a body, state or society, in assent to a proposition or in favor of the election of a person; in extended sense, a vote for or against any controverted question or nomination.
1534. More, Comf. agst. Trib., III. xxvi. Wks. 1259/2. Euery mans assent was called his suffrages:… one kinde of those suffrages, was by certayn thynges that are in latine called calculi.
1588. Shaks., Tit. A., I. i. 218. People of Rome, and Noble Tribunes heere, I aske your voyces and your Suffrages.
c. 1600. Drayton, Miseries Q. Margaret, cliv. The Spirituall Lords, and Temporall,… who farre more ready are To giue, then he their suffrages to craue.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., III. xlii. 290. The manner of choosing Magistrates … was by plurality of suffrages.
a. 1707. S. Patrick, Autobiog. (1839), 43. The fellows came up one by one, and in a paper wrote their suffrages.
1765. Blackstone, Comm., I. 170. In all democracies … it is of the utmost importance to regulate by whom, and in what manner, the suffrages are to be given.
1781. J. Moore, View Soc. It. (1790), I. viii. 79. When the election took place, all the suffrages fell upon Paul Lue.
1809–10. Coleridge, Friend (1865), 127. Each of these [sc. inhabitants] has a right to a suffrage.
1848. Mill, Pol. Econ., II. i. § 2 (1876), 125. A magistrate or magistrates, whom we may suppose elected by the suffrages of the community.
1873. C. Robinson, N. S. Wales, 91. Those whose suffrages are to determine its [i.e., the State’s] future should be able to give an intelligent vote.
b. An object, as a pebble, a marked paper, or the like, used to indicate a vote given. rare.
1534. More, Comf. agst. Trib., III. Wks. 1259/2. Vnto him which ouercometh, he will geue a white suffrage.
1665. J. Buck, in Peacock, Stat. Cambr. (1841), App. B. p. lxxviii. The Scrutators … put their suffrages into one of the Hats.
1819. Scott, Ivanhoe, xxxvii. The Grand Master had collected the suffrages.
1835. T. Mitchell, Acharn. of Aristoph., 543, note. Ψηφίζεσθαι, to vote by suffrages thrown into jars.
4. gen. A vote in support of or an opinion in favor of some person or thing; hence (now Obs. or arch.), in neutral sense, an opinion.
1594. Selimus, E. The loue I beare to my deare Acomat, Commands me giue my suffrage vnto him.
1610. B. Jonson, Alch., To Rdr. If it were put to the question … the worse would finde more suffrages.
1640. Hall, Episc., II. xiii. 166. Tertullian was … not at all below him [sc. Irenæus] in the clearnesse of his suffrage, Edant origines &c.
1653. Nicholas Papers (Camden), II. 24. I have herein sent you an Extract of the Substance of that Elector’s Suffrage there concerning his Majesty.
1660. H. More, Myst. Godl., To Rdr. 25. He that is a perfect Papist being of one mind and suffrage with his Church.
1726. Pope, Odyss., XIX. 181. My anxious parents urge a speedy choice, And to their suffrage gain the filial voice.
1750. Johnson, Rambler, No. 11, ¶ 9. He that finds his knowledge narrow,… and by consequence his suffrage not much regarded.
c. 1804. Jane Austen, Watsons, in Austen-Leigh, Mem. (1871), 322. ‘Oh uncle! do look at my partner; she is so pretty!’… Charles was hurried off without being able to receive his uncle’s suffrage.
1822–7. Good, Study Med. (1829), I. 423. It has not fallen to my lot … to add my suffrage in its favour.
1850. Whipple, Ess. & Rev. (ed. 3), I. 13. He has the hesitating suffrages of men of taste, and the plaudits of the million.
1883. ‘Ouida,’ Wanda, I. 216. The world would not be as much so if I really wanted its suffrages.
5. Approval, sanction, consent. Const. to. arch.
1598. Chapman, Iliad, VIII. 7. That God nor Goddesse may attempt, t’ infringe my soueraigne mind: But all giue suffrage.
1609. B. Jonson, Sil. Wom., I. ii. I’ll giue no suffrage to’t.
a. 1652. Brome, Novella, V. i. Let me beg Your suffrage Lady, I may bid them welcome.
1668. Rolle’s Abridgm., Publ. Pref. a 2. The Common-Law of England … hath had the suffrage of the whole Kingdome in all Ages.
1704. Evelyn, Diary, Dec. My Lord of Canterbury wrote to me for suffrage for Mr. Clarke’s continuance … in the Boyle Lecture.
1787. J. Barlow, Oration 4th July, 12. The system to be established by his suffrage is calculated for the … purposes of extending peace.
1825. Scott, Jrnl., 20 Nov. To gain your suffrage to his views, he endeavours [etc.].
1873. H. Rogers, Orig. Bible, ii. (1875), 80. Those religious systems which happen to have the suffrage of the government.
† b. An instance of this; an expression or token of approval. Obs.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 304. Such was the glorie and valour of Huniades … as … procured vnto him the generall fauour and suffrages of all.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 470. The man was pardoned, and the lion was giuen vnto him for a reward or suffrage.
1610. Heywood, Gold. Age, I. i. The Queene, the Peeres, And all the people with lowd Suffrages, Haue shrild their Auees.
1788. T. Taylor, Proclus, I. 9. They openly presaged, that this gift … was a future suffrage of his succession confirmed by divine events.
1829. I. Taylor, Enthus., viii. 195. A system … which had won for itself a suffrage so general if not universal.
† 6. The support or assurance of evidence or testimony in favor of something. Obs.
1606. S. Gardiner, Bk. Angling, 50. We list first to conclude our iudgement by suffrages of scriptures.
1650. Bulwer, Anthropomet., 4. In the opinion of Claramontius, the reason of the thing gives a suffrage unto it.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm. (1686), III. ii. 17. Precepts are delivered in an universal and abstracted manner,… without any intervention, assistence, or suffrage of sense.
a. 1718. W. Penn, Tracts, Wks. 1726, I. 570. We herein are not without the Suffrage of the Scriptures to our Defence.
7. The collective vote of a body of persons.
1610. Heywood, Gold. Age, I. i. I choose it as my right by gift of heauen, The peoples suffrage, the dead Kings bequest.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 6 Jan. 1661. I was now chosen (and nominated by his Majestie for one of the Council) by suffrage of the rest of the Members, a Fellow of the Philosophic Society.
1776. Gibbon, Decl. & F. (1782), I. xii. 384. The election of a new emperor was referred to the suffrage of the military order.
1823. Bentham, Not Paul but Jesus, 221. Philip,… one of the seven trustees, who … had been chosen by universal suffrage.
8. The collective opinion of a body of persons; hence, contextually, consensus of opinion; (common or general) consent.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 111. In this suffrage or voyce of consent.
1611. Coryat, Crudities, 627. Mercator … who by the vniuersall suffrage of all the learned is esteemed the most excellent cosmographer.
1662. Gunning, Lent Fast, 79. The Apostles by their common suffrage sanctified … these 7 weeks of fastings.
1697. Evelyn, Numismata, vii. 240. Head … cut in Onyx, comparable by universal Suffrage to any of the Old Masters.
1794. R. J. Sulivan, View Nat., II. 232. To prefer their own judgment to the general suffrage of mankind.
1861. Mill, Utilitar., ii. 16. What means are there of determining which is the acutest of two pains … except the general suffrage of those who are familiar with both?
1882. Hinsdale, Garfield & Educ., II. 361. He draughted a paper,… and submitted it to the suffrage of the republic of scientific scholars.
† b. Repute; = OPINION 6. Obs.
1667. Waterhouse, Narr. Fire in London, 90. She hath the suffrage abroad to be one of the most August … Governments in the world.
9. The casting of a vote, voting; the exercise of a right to vote; election by voting.
1665. Manley, Grotius’ Low C. Wars, 907. They … should have right of suffrage in their Dyets and Assemblies.
1667. Milton, P. L., II. 415. Here he had need All circumspection, and wee now no less Choice in our suffrage.
1709. Strype, Ann. Ref., I. xxix. 299. They went to the Suffrage in the Afternoon, and such of the House as were against the Six Articles … carried it.
1760–72. J. Adams, trans. Juan & Ulloa’s Voy. (ed. 3), II. 45. In the former [university] are chairs for all the sciences, and filled by suffrage.
1850. Marsden, Early Purit. (1853), 300. A successor was chosen by general suffrage.
1887. Lowell, Democracy, etc., 32. The right of suffrage is not valued when indiscriminately bestowed.
† 10. A voice or voting power in a matter. Obs.
a. 1662. Heylin, Laud (1668), 375. The Covenanters had so laid the Plot, that none but those of their own Party should have Suffrage in it.
1673. Lady’s Call., Pref. The Gyneceum has still had a rival suffrage with the Senate.
II. The right or privilege of voting as a member of a body, state, etc. (orig. U.S.)
1789. Constit. U. S., v. No state shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate.
1817–8. Cobbett, Resid. U.S. (1822), 220. The suffrage, or qualification of electors, is very various.
1840. Arnold, Hist. Rome, II. 313. The survivors … were obliged to become Roman citizens without suffrage.
1867. Latham, Black & White, 114. No territories shall be admitted as States in which there is not an equal suffrage of all races and colours.
b. With prefixed word denoting the extent, as female, household, manhood, universal, woman(’s, women’s suffrage.
1798. W. Nares, Jacobin, vi. in Anti-Jacobin, No. 22. I pant and sigh for univers—al suffrage.
1866. [see HOUSEHOLD 8].
1873. [see MANHOOD 7].
1877. Gladstone, Glean. (1879), I. 147. Is not Mr. Lowe a little hard on the universal suffrage of France, when he charges on it a protective tariff, seeing that the no-suffrage of Russia has one tenfold more protective?
1884. [see FEMALE a. 4 b].
