pseph-
(Received Pronunciation) enPR: psēf—, psĕf—, IPA: /psiːf—/, /psɛf—/(US) enPR: psēf—, IPA: /psif—/Prefix
- pebble, small stone
- voting, election; ballot box
Etymology
From the Ancient Greek ψῆφος (psêphos, “pebble”); the later, electoral sense stems from the ancient Athenian method of voting by putting a pebble in a ballot box (for which sense see psephisma and psephophoria).
Usage notes
When combined with a word or another affix which begins with a consonant, this prefix concatenates with the interfix -o- (as psepho-).Of the pronunciations in use, psēf— is the most etymologically consistent.Derived terms
Terms derived in the sense “pebble”, “small stone”
psephite (geology)psephitic (geology)psephomancy (chiefly historical)Terms derived in the sense “voting”, “election”; “ballot box”
psephocracypsephograph (rare)psephologypsephologicalpsephologicallypsephologistRelated terms
isopsephicisopsephismpsephism (Ancient Greek history)psephisma (Ancient Greek history)psephophoria References
“psepho-” listed in the Oxford English Dictionary [2nd Ed.; 1989]“psepho-, comb. form” listed in the Oxford English Dictionary [draft revision; June 2008]