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philately

(fə lat′'l ē)

noun

the collection and study of postage stamps, postmarks, stamped envelopes, etc.

Origin: Fr philatélie, coined (1864) < Gr philos, loving + ateleia, exemption from (further) tax, taken as equivalent of “postage prepaid”

Related Forms:

philatelic adjective
philatelically adverb
philatelist noun

See philately in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

The collection and study of postage stamps, postmarks, and related materials; stamp collecting.

Origin:

Origin: French philatélie

Origin: : Greek phil-, philo-, philo-

Origin: + Greek ateleia, exemption from payment (because a postage stamp indicates prepayment of postage) (a-, without; see a-¹ + telos, tax, charge; see telə- in Indo-European roots)

Related Forms:

philˌa·telˈic (fĭlˌə-tĕlˈĭk), philˌa·telˈi·cal (-ĭ-kəl) adjective

philˌa·telˈi·cal·ly adverb

phi·latˈe·list noun

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-Phile, -Philia, -Phily