sb. and a. Obs. [a. F. suffragant, ad. L. suffrāgans, -ant-, pr. pple. of suffrāgārī (see next).] A. sb. 1. = SUFFRAGAN sb. 2.
1611. Cotgr., Suffragant, a Suffragant, or Suffragan, a Bishops deputie.
2. One who gives his suffrage or vote; a voter; hence, a supporter, witness.
1627. Jackson, Holy Cath. Faith, I. xxi. 181. Wee haue euery member of the Romish Church a suffragant or witnesse for vs.
1656. Artif. Handsom., 118. Hoping to find them more friends and suffragants to the virtues … of sober women than enemies to their beauty.
1678. R. L’Estrange, Seneca’s Mor., II. xx. 261. When they are no longer Candidates, they are Suffragants.
1697. Potter, Antiq. Greece, I. ix. (1715), 44. The Prytanes, who were also oblig’d to provide a sufficient number of Stones for the Suffragants.
B. adj. 1. Auxiliary, subordinate.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, I. lvi. (1632), 175. She [sc. Divinity] ought to be chiefe ruler … and not suffragant and subsidiary.
2. Giving support or witness.
a. 1656. Bp. Hall, Rem. Wks. (1660), 302. If … I should let my pen loose to the suffragant testimonies … I should trye your patience.
