Obs. [f. prec. or ad. L. suffrāgārī (see SUFFRAGATE).]
1. intr. To vote for or against; hence, to agree or side with, to give support to.
1613. T. Godwin, Rom. Antiq. (1614), 97. Neither children … nor old men … were allowed to suffrage in these assemblies.
1652. L. S., People’s Liberty, ix. 60. They are not to be permitted to suffrage in state affairs.
1657. Tomlinson, Renou’s Disp., 237. Yet Matthiolus will not suffrage herewith, but contends [etc.].
1657. W. Morice, Coena quasi Κοινὴ, ix. 93. I never voted for exorbitant Episcopacy, nor should I have ever suffraged against a regulated. Ibid., Diat vi. 309. Some, that suffrage for the Presbyterial Government.
1661. Glanvill, Van. Dogm., 179. What he hath of this, was never learnt from his Hypotheses; but forcibly fetch’d in to suffrage to them.
2. trans. To elect by vote; hence, to give support to; to side with.
1641. Milton, Reform., II. Wks. 1851, III. 57. As well as their worldly wisedomes are priviledg’d as members of the State in suffraging their … Burgesses.
1641. Anc. Customs Eng., in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), IV. 368. Every particular subject, who is either present personally, or consenting by his assignee, suffraged by himself.
1838. S. Bellamy, Betrayal, 17. When the false god call’d Upon her tempest breath to suffrage him.
Hence † Suffrager Obs. rare, a voter.
1613. T. Godwin, Rom. Antiq. (1614), 98. Little coffers, into which the suffragers which did approue the law did cast in the first table; those that disliked it, did cast in the second.
1701. En1. Inconv. Public & Adv. Priv. Elect., 22. An Election … is a Majority of Votes including the sense of a Majority of Suffragers.
