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Privy
Definitions
- 1 Private, exclusive; not public; one's own. historical
"The king retreated to his privy chamber."
- 2 Secret, hidden, concealed. archaic
"Nonetheless, in the dark and privy stillness of our minds there are few of us who are not still haunted by worrisome doubts."
- 3 With knowledge of; party to; let in on.
"He was privy to the discussions."
- 1 (followed by ‘to’) informed about something secret or not generally known wordnet
- 2 hidden from general view or use wordnet
- 1 An outdoor facility for urination and defecation, whether open (latrine) or enclosed (outhouse).
- 2 a small outbuilding with a bench having holes through which a user can defecate wordnet
- 3 A lavatory: a room with a toilet.
"To counteract these degrading effects he advised that the privy should be in every house the room nearest to heaven, […]."
- 4 a room or building equipped with one or more toilets wordnet
- 5 A toilet: a fixture used for urination and defecation.
"Arconum—I found two chairs wanting in the gentlemen's room, and the bath room attached applied to other purposes... the privies and urinaries clean..."
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- 6 A partaker; one having an interest in an action, contract, etc. to which he is not himself a party.
Etymology
From Middle English pryvy, prive, from Old French privé (“private”), from Latin prīvātus (“deprived”), perfect passive participle of prīvō (“I bereave, deprive; I free, release”). Doublet of private.
From Middle English pryvy, prive, from Old French privé (“private”), from Latin prīvātus (“deprived”), perfect passive participle of prīvō (“I bereave, deprive; I free, release”). Doublet of private.
See also for "privy"
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