— privately , adv. — privateness , n.
/pruy"vit/ , adj.
1. belonging to some particular person: private property.
2. pertaining to or affecting a particular person or a small group of persons; individual; personal: for your private satisfaction.
3. confined to or intended only for the persons immediately concerned; confidential: a private meeting.
4. personal and not publicly expressed: one's private feelings.
5. not holding public office or employment: private citizens.
6. not of an official or public character: private life.
7. removed from or out of public view or knowledge; secret: private papers.
8. not open or accessible to the general public: a private beach.
9. undertaken individually or personally: private research.
10. without the presence of others; alone.
11. solitary; secluded.
12. preferring privacy; retiring: a very private person.
13. intimate; most personal: private behavior.
14. of, having, or receiving special hospital facilities, privileges, and services, esp. a room of one's own and liberal visiting hours: a private room; a private patient.
15. of lowest military rank.
16. of, pertaining to, or coming from nongovernmental sources: private funding.
n.
17. a soldier of one of the three lowest enlisted ranks.
18. privates . See private parts .
19. in private , not publicly; secretly: The hearing will be conducted in private.
[ 1350-1400; ME privatus private, lit., taken away (from public affairs), special use of ptp. of privare to rob. See DEPRIVE, -ATE 1 ]
Syn. 2. singular, particular, peculiar. 10. sequestered, retired.
Ant. 2. general, public.