Priv"i*lege (?), n. [F.
privilège, L. privilegium an ordinance or law
against or in favor of an individual; privus private +
lex, legis, law. See Private, and
Legal.]
1. A peculiar benefit, advantage, or favor; a
right or immunity not enjoyed by others or by all; special enjoyment
of a good, or exemption from an evil or burden; a prerogative;
advantage; franchise.
He pleads the legal privilege of a
Roman.
Kettlewell.
The privilege birthright was a double
portion.
Locke.
A people inheriting privileges, franchises, and
liberties.
Burke.
2. (Stockbroker's Cant) See
Call, Put, Spread, etc.
Breach of privilege. See under
Breach. -- Question of privilege
(Parliamentary practice), a question which concerns the
security of a member of a legislative body in his special privileges
as such. -- Water privilege, the advantage
of having machinery driven by a stream, or a place affording such
advantage. [ U. S.] -- Writ of privilege
(Law), a writ to deliver a privileged person from custody
when arrested in a civil suit. Blackstone.
Syn. -- Prerogative; immunity; franchise; right; claim;
liberty. -- Privilege, Prerogative. Privilege,
among the Romans, was something conferred upon an individual by a
private law; and hence, it denotes some peculiar benefit or advantage,
some right or immunity, not enjoyed by the world at large.
Prerogative, among the Romans, was the right of voting first;
and, hence, it denotes a right of precedence, or of doing certain
acts, or enjoying certain privileges, to the exclusion of others. It
is the privilege of a member of Congress not to be called in
question elsewhere for words uttered in debate. It is the
prerogative of the president to nominate judges and executive
officers. It is the privilege of a Christian child to be
instructed in the true religion. It is the prerogative of a
parent to govern and direct his children.
Priv"i*lege (?), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Privileged (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Privileging.] [Cf. F.
privilégier.]
1. To grant some particular right or exemption
to; to invest with a peculiar right or immunity; to authorize; as, to
privilege representatives from arrest.
To privilege dishonor in thy name.
Shak.
2. To bring or put into a condition of
privilege or exemption from evil or danger; to exempt; to
deliver.
He took this place for sanctuary, And it shall
privilege him from your hands.
Shak.
