v. Obs. [f. L. suffrāgāt-, pa. ppl. stem of suffrāgārī, f. stem of suffrāgium SUFFRAGE.]
1. trans. To delegate, appoint.
1600. W. Watson, Decacordon (1602), 273. Suffragating Arrian Bishops and others in their places.
2. intr. To testify, to bear witness to.
1620. T. Granger, Div. Logike, 233. Verbes, to witnes, testifie,… Suffragate.
1629. Prynne, Old Antith., 73. All these doe fully suffragate to this our third Ante-Arminian Conclusion. Ibid. (1633), Histrio-m., 77. All Times, All Ages … Subscribe, and Suffragate with these our Authors to our Minor.
1665. Glanvill, Scepsis Sci., viii. 45. Now this seems bigg of repugnancies, though Sense it self suffragate to its truth.
a. 1676. Hale, Prim. Orig. Man., I. ii. (1677), 62. Unless there were some common consonancy and congruity of somewhat inherent in Nature which suits, corresponds and suffragates to that Tradition.
3. To vote (for).
1630. Prynne, Anti-Armin., 2. If all these suffragate or passe their Verdict for the Arminians.
1691. Wood, Fasti Oxon. (1820), II. 345. Michael Ward … was incorporated in the said degree, with liberty given him to suffragate in congreg. and convoc.
Hence † Suffragating ppl. a., voting; assenting.
1684. Dryden, Prol. to Univ. Oxford, 31. Nations su’d to be made free of Rome: Not in the suffragating Tribes to stand, But in your utmost, last, Provincial Band.
1850. Blackie, Æschylus, II. 119. These words the Argive people Answered with suffragating hands.
