prerogative
a special right or privilege
Roots
- pre-: before, earlier, or in front
- rog / rogat: ask, request, propose, or put a question formally
Other words with the rog / rogat root
- abrogate: to abolish or repeal formally
- derogatory: showing a critical or belittling attitude
- interrogate: to question someone closely
Pre means before; rog / rogat points to formal asking or choosing. A prerogative is a special right that comes before ordinary choice.
Choosing the final design was the editor’s prerogative.
Prerogative feels abstract until you give it a social scene: someone has the special right to be asked first, choose first, or decide before others. That is the privilege inside the word.