privilege (eg as ig), privilegie, priv1ledge, pryvelage

[Fr privilège, from Lat. privilegium = (1) a bill against a person, (2) an ordinance in favor of a person, a privilege: privus =single, and lex (gen it. leg is )=a law; Sp., Port. & Ital. privilegio. I. Ordinary Language : 1. A peculiar benefit, right, advantage, or immunity; a right, advantage, ., enjoyed by a person or body of persons beyond the ordinary advantages of other persons; the enjoyment of some peculiar right; exemption from certain evils or burdens; an immunity or advantage enjoyed in right of one's position. "Borough after borough was compelled to surrender its privileges." -Macaulay: Hist. Eng., ch. ii. 2. A right in general. "Only they hath privilege to live." Shakesp.: Richard II., ii. 1. 3. An advantage; a favorable circumstance. "Your virtue is my privilege." Shakesp.: Midsummer Night's Dream, ii. 1. II. Law : The state or quality of being a privileged communication; as, to plead privilege . (1) Breach of privilege : A breach of any of the privileges of a parliamentary body. [PARLIAMENT, 11.2.] (2) Personal privileges : Privileges attached to the person. (3) Question of privilege : In parliamentary bodies a question affecting the privileges appertaining to the members of the house individually, or to the house collectively. (4) Water privilege : The advantage of getting machinery driven by a stream, or a place affording such advantage. IMG:content-1549.png:[blocks in formation] 2. To license, to authorize. "To privilege dishonor in thy name." Shakesp.: Rape of Lucrece, 621.