- ə lē, - ə li noun
( -es )
Etymology: French philatélie, from phil- + Greek ateleia tax exemption, immunity, from atelēs free from tax or tribute, immune from public duties (from a- a- (II) + telos tax) + -ia -y; akin to Greek telein to pay, tlēnai to bear; from the fact that the postage stamp exempted the recipient from paying the mailing charge or tax — more at tolerate
1. : the collection and study of postage stamps and of postal stationery that has passed through the mail : stamp collecting
it is with adhesive postage stamps that philately is primarily concerned — R.H.P.Curle
2. : stamp collectors : philatelists
surprised and delighted philately by his early announcement of … commemorative stamps — K.B.Stiles