[pre.rog.a.tive] n [ME, fr. MF & L; MF, fr. L praerogativa, Roman century voting first in the 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] (15c) 1 a: an exclusive or special right, power, or privilege: as (1): one belonging to an office or an official body (2): one belonging to a person, group, or class of individuals (3): one possessed by a nation as an attribute of sovereignty b: the discretionary power inhering in the British Crown
2: a distinctive excellence -- pre.rog.a.tived adj