suffrage etymology

Etymology: * Middle English suffrage (c. 1440) * Anglo-French suffrage (13th century) * Latin suffragium ("a vote, support, aid") * Proto-Indo-European base *s(w)ep- ("to aid")

Meaning: The right or privilege of voting in a public election or referendum.

Origin: The word "suffrage" has its roots in the Latin word "suffragium," which originally meant "a vote or ballot." In ancient Rome, citizens would cast their votes by placing a small token into a ballot box. The word "suffragium" was also used to refer to the support or assistance that one person gave to another, particularly in a political context.

Over time, the meaning of "suffrage" evolved to refer specifically to the right to vote in public elections. In the Middle Ages, the right to vote was typically restricted to wealthy landowners and other privileged groups. However, the concept of universal suffrage gradually gained popularity, and by the 19th century, most countries had adopted some form of electoral franchise.

Today, the right to vote is considered a fundamental human right in many democracies. Suffrage is an essential component of a democratic society, as it gives citizens the power to have a say in the decisions that affect their lives.

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