Dictionary

philately

noun phi·lat·e·ly \fə-ˈla-tə-lē\

: the study or collection of postage stamps

Full Definition of PHILATELY

:  the collection and study of postage and imprinted stamps :  stamp collecting
phil·a·tel·ic \ˌfi-lə-ˈte-lik\ adjective
phil·a·tel·i·cal·ly \-li-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
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Origin of PHILATELY

French philatélie, from phil- + Greek ateleia tax exemption, from atelēs free from tax, from a- + telos tax; perhaps akin to Greek tlēnai to bear; from the fact that a stamped letter frees the recipient from paying the mailing charges — more at tolerate
First Known Use: circa 1865

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