\Priv"i*lege\, n. [F. privil[`e]ge, 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.
Usage: {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. privil['e]gier.]
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.