Breach of privilege

Privilege \Priv"i*lege\, n. [F. privil[`e]ge, L. privilegium an
   ordinance or law against or in favor of an individual; privus
   private + lex, legis, law. See {Private}, and {Legal}.]
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   1. A peculiar benefit, advantage, or favor; a right or
      immunity not enjoyed by others or by all; special
      enjoyment of a good, or exemption from an evil or burden;
      a prerogative; advantage; franchise.
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            He pleads the legal privilege of a Roman.
                                                  --Kettlewell.
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            The privilege birthright was a double portion.
                                                  --Locke.
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            A people inheriting privileges, franchises, and
            liberties.                            --Burke.
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   2. (Stockbroker's Cant) See {Call}, {Put}, {Spread}, etc.
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   {Breach of privilege}. See under {Breach}.

   {Question of privilege} (Parliamentary practice), a question
      which concerns the security of a member of a legislative
      body in his special privileges as such.

   {Water privilege}, the advantage of having machinery driven
      by a stream, or a place affording such advantage. [ U. S.]
      

   {Writ of privilege} (Law), a writ to deliver a privileged
      person from custody when arrested in a civil suit.
      --Blackstone.
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   Syn: Prerogative; immunity; franchise; right; claim; liberty.

   Usage: {Privilege}, {Prerogative}. Privilege, among the
          Romans, was something conferred upon an individual by
          a private law; and hence, it denotes some peculiar
          benefit or advantage, some right or immunity, not
          enjoyed by the world at large. Prerogative, among the
          Romans, was the right of voting first; and, hence, it
          denotes a right of precedence, or of doing certain
          acts, or enjoying certain privileges, to the exclusion
          of others. It is the privilege of a member of Congress
          not to be called in question elsewhere for words
          uttered in debate. It is the prerogative of the
          president to nominate judges and executive officers.
          It is the privilege of a Christian child to be
          instructed in the true religion. It is the prerogative
          of a parent to govern and direct his children.
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Breach \Breach\ (br[=e]ch), n. [OE. breke, breche, AS. brice,
   gebrice, gebrece (in comp.), fr. brecan to break; akin to
   Dan. br[ae]k, MHG. breche, gap, breach. See {Break}, and cf.
   {Brake} (the instrument), {Brack} a break] .
   1. The act of breaking, in a figurative sense.
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   2. Specifically: A breaking or infraction of a law, or of any
      obligation or tie; violation; non-fulfillment; as, a
      breach of contract; a breach of promise.
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   3. A gap or opening made made by breaking or battering, as in
      a wall or fortification; the space between the parts of a
      solid body rent by violence; a break; a rupture.
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            Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;
            Or close the wall up with our English dead. --Shak.
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   4. A breaking of waters, as over a vessel; the waters
      themselves; surge; surf.
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            The Lord hath broken forth upon mine enemies before
            me, as the breach of waters.          --2 Sam. v.
                                                  20.
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   {A clear breach} implies that the waves roll over the vessel
      without breaking.

   {A clean breach} implies that everything on deck is swept
      away. --Ham. Nav. Encyc.
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   5. A breaking up of amicable relations; rupture.
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            There's fallen between him and my lord
            An unkind breach.                     --Shak.
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   6. A bruise; a wound.
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            Breach for breach, eye for eye.       --Lev. xxiv.
                                                  20.
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   7. (Med.) A hernia; a rupture.
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   8. A breaking out upon; an assault.
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            The Lord had made a breach upon Uzza. --1. Chron.
                                                  xiii. 11.
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   {Breach of falth}, a breaking, or a failure to keep, an
      expressed or implied promise; a betrayal of confidence or
      trust.

   {Breach of peace}, disorderly conduct, disturbing the public
      peace.

   {Breach of privilege}, an act or default in violation of the
      privilege or either house of Parliament, of Congress, or
      of a State legislature, as, for instance, by false
      swearing before a committee. --Mozley. Abbott.
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   {Breach of promise}, violation of one's plighted word, esp.
      of a promise to marry.

   {Breach of trust}, violation of one's duty or faith in a
      matter entrusted to one.
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   Syn: Rent; cleft; chasm; rift; aperture; gap; break;
        disruption; fracture; rupture; infraction; infringement;
        violation; quarrel; dispute; contention; difference;
        misunderstanding.
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