n. [ F. prérogative, from L. praerogativa precedence in voting, preference, privilege, fr. praerogativus that is asked before others for his opinion, that votes before or first, fr. praerogare to ask before another; prae before + rogare to ask. See Rogation. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. An exclusive or peculiar privilege; prior and indefeasible right; fundamental and essential possession; -- used generally of an official and hereditary right which may be asserted without question, and for the exercise of which there is no responsibility or accountability as to the fact and the manner of its exercise. [ 1913 Webster ]

The two faculties that are the prerogative of man -- the powers of abstraction and imagination. I. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

An unconstitutional exercise of his prerogative. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Precedence; preëminence; first rank. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Then give me leave to have prerogative. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The term came into general use in the conflicts between the Crown and Parliaments of Great Britain, especially in the time of the Stuarts. [ 1913 Webster ]

Prerogative Court (Eng. Law), a court which formerly had authority in the matter of wills and administrations, where the deceased left bona notabilia, or effects of the value of five pounds, in two or more different dioceses. Blackstone. --
Prerogative office, the office in which wills proved in the Prerogative Court were registered. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Privilege; right. See Privilege. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Endowed with a prerogative, or exclusive privilege. [ R. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. By prerogative. [ 1913 Webster ]