prerogative
pre.rog.a.tive \pri-'ra:g-*t-iv\ \-ivd\ n [ME, fr. MF & L; MF, fr. L
praerogativa, Roman century voting first in th]e comitia, privilege, fr.
fem. of praerogativus voting first, fr. praerogatus, pp. of praerogare to
ask for an opinion before another, fr. prae- + rogare to ask - more at
RIGHT 1a: an exclusive or special right, power, or privilege : as 1a1: one
belonging to an office or an official body 1a2: one belonging to a person,
group, or class of individuals 1a3: one possessed by a nation as an
attribute of sovereignty 1b: the discretionary power inhering in the
British Crown 2: a distinctive excellence - pre.rog.a.tived aj