/ ˈprɪvi; NAmE / adjective , noun
■ adjective
( formal ) privy to sth allowed to know about sth secret :
She was not privy to any information contained in the letters.
■ noun
( pl. -ies ) ( old-fashioned ) a toilet, especially an outdoor one
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (originally in the sense belonging to one's own private circle ): from Old French prive private (also used as a noun meaning private place and familiar friend), from Latin privatus withdrawn from public life, a use of the past participle of privare bereave, deprive, from privus single, individual.