ˈprivəd.ē, -ətē, -i noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English privete, privite, from Old French, from Medieval Latin privitat-, privitas, from Latin privus private + -itat-, -itas -ity
1. : something that is not made public or displayed: as
a. obsolete : a private matter (as a plan or affair) : secret
b. obsolete : one's private business
c. privities plural : the external genitals : part 1d(3)
2. obsolete : private condition (as of life or position) : seclusion , privacy
3. : private knowledge or joint knowledge with another of a private matter ; especially : cognizance implying concurrence
all the doors were laid open for his departure, not without the privity of the Prince of Orange — Jonathan Swift
mere privity to a crime may involve legal penalties
4.
a. : a connection between parties (as to some particular transaction)
b. : mutual or successive relationship to the same rights of property : the relationship between privies whereby they succeed to the same legal right or duty derived from a common source