prīvĭlēgĭum, ii, n. [privus-lex],
I a bill or law in favor of or against an individual (class.): in privatos homines leges ferri noluerunt; id est enim privilegium, Cic. Leg. 3, 19, 44; cf. id. Sest. 30, 65; id. Dom. 17, 43: de te privilegium tulit, id. Par. 4, 32; id. Brut. 23, 89: licuit tibi ferre non legem, sed nefarium privilegium, id. Dom. 10, 26: privilegia irrogare, id. ib. 10, 42: vim et crudelitatem privilegii publicis litteris consignavit, id. Red. in Sen. 11, 29.—
II In the post-Aug. period, an ordinance in favor of an individual , privilege , prerogative (cf.: beneficium, jus praecipuum, immunitas): coloniam habuisse privilegium, et vetustissimum morem, arbitrio suo rempublicam administrare, Plin. Ep. 10, 47 (56), 1; Traj. ap. Plin. Ep. 10, 109 (110): quaedam privilegia parentibus data sunt, Sen. Ben. 3, 11, 1: privilegio munitus, Dig. 38, 17, 2: privilegium aetatis, Just. 2, 10, 2; Ambros. in Psa. 118, Serm. 13, 15: sacerdotum, Suet. Aug. 93: athletarum, id. ib. 45.