philately
phi·lat·e·ly
noun \fə-ˈla-tə-lē\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
See 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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