prerogative

noun

pre·rog·a·tive pri-ˈrä-gə-tiv How to pronounce prerogative (audio)

: an exclusive or special right, power, or privilege: such 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

: the discretionary power inhering in the British Crown

: a distinctive excellence

prerogatived

pri-ˈrä-gə-tivd How to pronounce prerogative (audio)

adjective

Did you know?

In ancient Rome, voting at legal assemblies was done by group, with the majority in a group determining its vote. The group chosen to vote first on an issue was called the praerogativa (that term traces to a verb meaning "to ask for an opinion before another"). Because the first vote was considered to be of great importance, Latin speakers also used the noun praerogativa to mean "preference" and later "privilege." As praerogativa passed through Anglo-French and Middle English, its spelling shifted to create the noun we know today.

Example Sentences

That sense that the future may not last for long is often assumed to be a prerogative of youth, the dialectical complement of another misconception the young are noted for—the conviction that they are immortal.

Thomas M. Disch, Atlantic, February 1992 More important than any of this, he offered himself as an incarnation of constitutional propriety so that, temperamentally stubborn, he was careful never to exceed the limits of a prerogative overexploited by the later Stuarts.

Simon Schama, The Embarrassment of Riches, 1988 The secularization of the Presidency is indispensable for the reassertion of congressional and popular prerogative.

Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., The Cycles of American History, 1986 If you'd rather sell the tickets than use them, that's your prerogative. It's a writer's prerogative to decide the fate of her characters.

Recent Examples on the Web Beyond that, however, the curators’ presumption of in-group prerogative edits not the panoply of current art but the makeup of its audience.

Peter Schjeldahl, The New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2021 Each plant manager or distribution center manager is given the prerogative of whether or not to use a solution.

Carsten Funke, Forbes, 25 July 2022 Being able to get appointments might remain the prerogative of those who happen to be able to book them as soon as new slots become available.

Annalisa Merelli, Quartz, 21 July 2022 The legislation does not change existing procedures for approving development, including the practice of aldermanic prerogative, which grants the City Council member who represents that ward an unofficial final say over projects there.

Gregory Pratt, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2022 Steve just stands there lookin’ cute, as is his prerogative.

Lauren Puckett-pope, ELLE, 2 July 2022 When Pelosi decided to block Jordan and Jim Banks from serving, as is the prerogative of the speaker, McCarthy rescinded the other three GOP members out of pique last summer.

Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 9 June 2022 In 2013, the Supreme Court rejected an earlier attempt by the state to impose similar proof-of-citizenship requirements for federal elections, saying such a mandate interfered with Congress’s prerogative to set election laws.

Sadie Gurman, WSJ, 5 July 2022 Mississippi Democrat Bennie Thompson delivered the opening remarks, which was certainly his prerogative as the chairman of the committee.

Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 June 2022 See More

Word History

Etymology

Middle English prerogatif, prerogative, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin praerogātīva "the century (Roman voting unit) on which the lot fell to vote first, the verdict of that century (seen as predicting the outcome of the whole vote), omen, prior choice, prior right or claim," (short for centuria praerogātīva "century voting first"), from feminine of praerogātīvus "appointed by lot to vote first," from prae- pre- + rogātus, past participle of rogāre "to ask, ask (an assembly for a decision)" + -īvus -ive — more at rogation

Note: Latin praerogātīvus was probably formed in the manner indicated, rather than as a derivative of praerogāre "to ask or propose beforehand, pay in advance," not attested before the 4th century a.d.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

单词	prerogatives
释义	prerogative noun pre·rog·a·tive pri-ˈrä-gə-tiv 1 a : an exclusive or special right, power, or privilege: such 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 prerogatived pri-ˈrä-gə-tivd adjective Did you know? In ancient Rome, voting at legal assemblies was done by group, with the majority in a group determining its vote. The group chosen to vote first on an issue was called the praerogativa (that term traces to a verb meaning "to ask for an opinion before another"). Because the first vote was considered to be of great importance, Latin speakers also used the noun praerogativa to mean "preference" and later "privilege." As praerogativa passed through Anglo-French and Middle English, its spelling shifted to create the noun we know today. Synonyms appanage apanage birthright right See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences That sense that the future may not last for long is often assumed to be a prerogative of youth, the dialectical complement of another misconception the young are noted for—the conviction that they are immortal. Thomas M. Disch, Atlantic, February 1992 More important than any of this, he offered himself as an incarnation of constitutional propriety so that, temperamentally stubborn, he was careful never to exceed the limits of a prerogative overexploited by the later Stuarts. Simon Schama, The Embarrassment of Riches, 1988 The secularization of the Presidency is indispensable for the reassertion of congressional and popular prerogative. Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., The Cycles of American History, 1986 If you'd rather sell the tickets than use them, that's your prerogative. It's a writer's prerogative to decide the fate of her characters. Recent Examples on the Web Beyond that, however, the curators’ presumption of in-group prerogative edits not the panoply of current art but the makeup of its audience. Peter Schjeldahl, The New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2021 Each plant manager or distribution center manager is given the prerogative of whether or not to use a solution. Carsten Funke, Forbes, 25 July 2022 Being able to get appointments might remain the prerogative of those who happen to be able to book them as soon as new slots become available. Annalisa Merelli, Quartz, 21 July 2022 The legislation does not change existing procedures for approving development, including the practice of aldermanic prerogative, which grants the City Council member who represents that ward an unofficial final say over projects there. Gregory Pratt, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2022 Steve just stands there lookin’ cute, as is his prerogative. Lauren Puckett-pope, ELLE, 2 July 2022 When Pelosi decided to block Jordan and Jim Banks from serving, as is the prerogative of the speaker, McCarthy rescinded the other three GOP members out of pique last summer. Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 9 June 2022 In 2013, the Supreme Court rejected an earlier attempt by the state to impose similar proof-of-citizenship requirements for federal elections, saying such a mandate interfered with Congress’s prerogative to set election laws. Sadie Gurman, WSJ, 5 July 2022 Mississippi Democrat Bennie Thompson delivered the opening remarks, which was certainly his prerogative as the chairman of the committee. Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 June 2022 See More Word History Etymology Middle English prerogatif, prerogative, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin praerogātīva "the century (Roman voting unit) on which the lot fell to vote first, the verdict of that century (seen as predicting the outcome of the whole vote), omen, prior choice, prior right or claim," (short for centuria praerogātīva "century voting first"), from feminine of praerogātīvus "appointed by lot to vote first," from prae- pre- + rogātus, past participle of rogāre "to ask, ask (an assembly for a decision)" + -īvus -ive — more at rogation Note: Latin praerogātīvus was probably formed in the manner indicated, rather than as a derivative of praerogāre "to ask or propose beforehand, pay in advance," not attested before the 4th century a.d. First Known Use 15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a prerogatives noun plural of prerogative as in rights something to which one has a just claim it's your prerogative to refuse to attend religious services Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance rights privileges birthrights appanages perquisites pretensions entitlements dues apanages pretenses dibs pretences calls
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prerogative

noun

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

noun