Webster's English Dictionary

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philately

phi.lat.e.ly \f*-'lat-*l-e-\ n [F philate`lie, fr. phil- + Gk ateleia tax 
   exemption, fr. Xatele-s free from tax, fr. a- + telos tax; akin to Gk 
   telein to pay, tle-nai to bear; fr. the fact that a stamped letter frees 
   the recipient from paying the mailing charges - more at TOLERATE : the 
   collection and study of postage and imprinted stamps