I.a votingtablet, a ballot (syn. tabella), and in gen., a vote, voice, suffrage (freq. and class.).
I. Lit.: “dicam et versabor in re difficili, suffragia magistratu mandando aut reo judicando clam an palam ferre melius esset ... Ego in istā sum sententia, quā te fuisse semper scio, nihil ut fuerit in suffragiis voce melius,” Cic. Leg. 3, 15, 33: “comitiis aediliciis suffragium ferre,” Varr. R. R. 3, 2, 1; cf.: “de ejus capite, liberis, fortunis omnibus, conductos et sicarios suffragium ferre et eam legem putare,” Cic. Dom. 18, 46: “ferunt suffragia,” id. Rep. 1, 31, 47: “te suffragium tulisse in illā lege,” id. Fam. 11, 27, 7: “dum diribentur suffragia,” Varr. R. R. 3, 2, 1: “suffragia aut scita multitudinis,” Cic. Leg. 1, 16, 43: “sine suffragio populi aedilitatem gerere,” Plaut. Stich. 2, 2, 28: “suffragiis tres ex tribus generibus creati sunt,” Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 51, § 127: “alii suffragium ineunt,” Liv. 3, 17: “centurias in suffragium mittere,” id. 31, 7: “vobismet ipsis per suffragia uti praesides olim, nunc dominos destinatis,” Sall. H. 3, 61, 6 Dietsch: “ut suffragia non in multitudinis, sed in locupletium potestate essent,” Cic. Rep. 2, 22, 39; cf. Fest. p. 334 Müll.: “libera,” Juv. 8, 211: “tacita,” i. e. secret voting, Plin. Ep. 3, 20, 7; 4, 25, 1 et saep.—
II. Transf.
A. The right of voting right of suffrage: populi esse, non senatus, suffragium, quibus velit, impartiri, Liv. 38, 36, 8: “si suffragium detur,” id. 4, 49 fin.: “ut populus Romanus suffragio privaretur,” Cic. Agr. 2, 7, 17: “quod interrogem, quem nemo congressu, nemo suffragio, nemo luce dignum putet,” id. Vatin. 1, 2: “suffragia populo reddere,” the elections, Suet. Calig. 16. —
B. In gen., a decision, judgment, opinion: “rhetor suffragio tuo et compotorum tuorum,” Cic. Phil. 2, 17, 42: “(apes) concorde suffragio deterrimos (reges) necant,” Plin. 11, 16, 16, § 51.—
2. In partic., a favorable decision, assent, approbation, applause (post-Aug.): “ventosae plebis suffragia,” Hor. Ep. 1, 19, 37; 2, 2, 103: “voto et suffragio prosequor,” Plin. Ep. 10, 18, 1; Dig. 24, 1, 24 al.: “Dentatus vel numerosissima suffragia habet,” i.e. very many authors who award to him the palm of bravery, Plin. 7, 28, 29, § 101.
