I. ˈprīvə̇t, usu -ə̇d+V adjective
( sometimes -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English privat, from Latin privatus apart from the state, deprived of office, of or belonging to oneself, private, from past participle of privare to deprive, release, from privus single, private, set apart, for himself; akin to Latin pro for — more at for
1.
a. : intended for or restricted to the use of a particular person or group or class of persons : not freely available to the public
a private park
a private party
b. : belonging to or concerning an individual person, company, or interest
our private goods
private property
a private house
private means
c.
(1) : restricted to the individual or arising independently of others
private views
a private opinion
(2) : carried on by an individual independently rather than under institutional or organizational direction or support
private research
(3) : being educated by independent study, under the direction of a tutor, or in a private school
private students
d.
(1) : affecting an individual or small group : restricted , personal
private malice
for your private satisfaction
(2) : affecting the interests of a particular person, class or group of persons, or locality : not general in effect
private act
— see private bill
e. : of, relating to, or receiving hospital service in which the patient has more privileges than a semiprivate or ward patient (as in having his own doctor, a room to himself, and extended visiting hours)
2.
a.
(1) : not invested with or engaged in public office or employment
a private citizen
(2) : not related to or dependent on one's official position : personal
private correspondence
b. of military personnel : of the lowest rank : having attained no title of rank or distinction
fought through the revolution as a private soldier
c.
(1) : manufactured, made, or issued by other than government means
private mailing card
private stamp
(2) : issued by private not public authority but acceptable as money either because of intrinsic value or exchange value guaranteed by issuer
a private coin
private currency
d. of clothing : civilian — used especially by the Salvation Army
3.
a. : sequestered from company or observation : withdrawn from public notice
a private retreat
b. : free from the company of others : alone
let us go where we can be private
c. : not known publicly or carried on in public : not open : secret
private negotiations
a private understanding
private prayer
especially : intended only for the persons involved
a private conversation
— compare confidential
d. : having knowledge not publicly available : holding a confidential relationship to something
you are private to all my affairs
e. obsolete : peculiar to a particular person
f. : being or considered unsuitable for public mention, use, or display — used especially of the genital organs
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin privatus, from privatus, adjective, private
1. archaic : one not in public life or office
2. obsolete
a. : a secret message : a private communication
b. : personal interest : particular business
c. : privacy , retirement
d. : intimate
3. privates plural : genitalia , part 1 d (3)
4. : a person having neither commissioned nor noncommissioned rank in a group organized along military lines : a private soldier: as
a. : an enlistee or draftee in the army just below a private first class and above a recruit or in the marine corps at the lowest level
b. : a fire fighter in an organized force below officer rank
5. : civilian dress for use when off duty — used by the Salvation Army
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- in private