PHILATELY

[phi.lat.e.ly] n [F philatelie, fr. phil- + Gk ateleia tax exemption, fr. ateles free from tax, fr. a- + telos tax; perh. akin to Gk tlenai to bear; fr. the fact that a stamped letter frees the recipient from paying the mailing charges--more at tolerate] (ca. 1865): the collection and study of postage and imprinted stamps: stamp collecting -- phil.a.tel.ic adj -- phil.a.tel.i.cal.ly adv