- prerogative
- late 14c. (in Anglo-L. from late 13c.), from O.Fr. prerogative (14c.), M.L. prerogativa "special right," from L. prærogativa "prerogative, previous choice or election," originally (with tribus, centuria) "unit of 100 voters who by lot voted first in the Roman comita," prop. fem. of prærogativus (adj.) "chosen to vote first," from prærogere "ask before others," from præ- "before" + rogare "to ask" (see rogation).