privilege English · revision 6901

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1137|origins=la privilegium}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈpɹɪv.(ɪ.)lɪd͡ʒ/ ''(UK)''; /ˈpɹɪv.ɪ.lɪd͡ʒ/, /ˈpɹɪv.ə.lɪd͡ʒ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fro|privilege|t=right, priority, privilege]] and directly [[bor|la|prīvilēgium|t=a law applying to one person; prerogative]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|la|privus|t=individual, private]] and [[m|la|lex|t=law]] (stem leg-).^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998)^(MWU 2024) The word appears in Old English, but as a Latin word.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A grant or commission: 1137, in the Peterborough Chronicle, in Barnhart, the mid-12th century in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Latin it was a law in favour of or against one person, and later, in the post-Augustan period, an ordinance exempting one person from a law.^(Etymonline) In English a right or advantage granted to a person or group is from before 1154,^(OED 1989) a special advantage or benefit from about 1230,^(OED 1989) and a special right or favour in the ''Ayenbite of Inwyt'' (1340).^(Barnhart 1988) A privileged position is from 1390.^(OED 1989) The verb, to invest with a privilege, is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) and in recent academic use, to treat one thing as more important than another.^(SOED 2002)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1137 – a grant, licence.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1230 – a special advantage.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 14th century – the verb.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1390 – a privileged position.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A special [[right]], advantage or immunity granted to a person or group.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The advantages enjoyed by wealthy or powerful people.^(Collins 2023)

+ # Something regarded as a rare opportunity: ''it was a privilege to meet her''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(law)'' The right to say or write things without being liable to legal action, as in parliament.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To grant a privilege to.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To give special status or importance to.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[privileger]]

+ * [[executive privilege]]

+ * [[Pauline privilege]]

+ * [[water privilege]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[allege]]

+ * [[private]]

+ * [[privy]]

+ * [[legal]]

+ * [[legislate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}