PRIV'ILEGE, n. [L. privilegium; privus, separate, private, and lex, law; originally a private law, some public act that regarded an individual.]

1. A particular and peculiar benefit or advantage enjoyed by a person, company or society, beyond the common advantages of other citizens. A privilege may be a particular right granted by law or held by custom, or it may be an exemption from some burden to which others are subject. The nobles of Great Britain have the privilege of being triable by their peers only. Members of parliament and of our legislatures have the privilege of exemption from arrests in certain cases. The powers of a banking company are privileges granted by the legislature. He pleads the legal privilege of the Roman. – Kettlewell. The privilege of birthright was a double portion. – Locke.
2. Any peculiar benefit or advantage, right or immunity, not common to others of the human race. Thus we speak of national privileges, and civil and political privileges, which we enjoy above other nations. We have ecclesiastical and religious privileges secured to us by our constitutions of government. Personal privileges are attached to the person; as those of embassadors, peers, members of legislatures, &c. Real privileges are attached to place; as, the privileges of the king's palace in England.
3. Advantage; favor; benefit. A nation despicable by its weakness, forfeits even the privilege of being neutral. – Federalist, Hamilton. Writ of privilege, is a writ to deliver a privileged person from custody when arrested in a civil suit. – Blackstone. Water privilege, the advantage of a waterfall in streams sufficient to raise water for driving wheels. [Privilege is here abusively used for advantage; it ought not to be used in a physical sense.]

1. To grant some particular right or exemption to; to invest with a peculiar right or immunity; as, to privilege representatives from arrest; to privilege the officers and students of a college from military duty.
2. To exempt from censure or danger. This place doth privilege me. – Daniel.

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. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.