Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Privilege \Priv"i*lege\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Privileged}; p.
pr. & vb. n. {Privileging}.] [Cf. F. privil['e]gier.]
1. To grant some particular right or exemption to; to invest
with a peculiar right or immunity; to authorize; as, to
privilege representatives from arrest.
To privilege dishonor in thy name. --Shak.
2. To bring or put into a condition of privilege or exemption
from evil or danger; to exempt; to deliver.
He took this place for sanctuary, And it shall
privilege him from your hands. --Shak.
Privileged \Priv"i*leged\, a.
Invested with a privilege; enjoying a peculiar right,
advantage, or immunity.
{Privileged communication}. (Law)
(a) A communication which can not be disclosed without the
consent of the party making it, -- such as those made by
a client to his legal adviser, or by persons to their
religious or medical advisers.
(b) A communication which does not expose the party making it
to indictment for libel, -- such as those made by persons
communicating confidentially with a government, persons
consulted confidentially as to the character of servants,
etc.
{Privileged debts} (Law), those to which a preference in
payment is given out of the estate of a deceased person,
or out of the estate of an insolvent. --Wharton.
--Burrill.
{Privileged witnesses} (Law) witnesses who are not obliged to
testify as to certain things, as lawyers in relation to
their dealings with their clients, and officers of state
as to state secrets; also, by statute, clergymen and
physicans are placed in the same category, so far as
concerns information received by them professionally.
Source : WordNet®
privileged
adj 1: blessed with privileges; "the privileged few" [ant: {underprivileged}]
2: not subject to usual rules or penalties; "a privileged
statement"
3: confined to an exclusive group; "privy to inner knowledge";
"inside information"; "privileged information" [syn: {inside},
{inner}]