I. ˈprivē, -vi adjective
( -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English prive, from Old French privé, from Latin privatus private — more at private
1. obsolete : holding a close relation usually to a person : intimate , familiar
2. : of, or relating to some person exclusively : assigned for private use or personal service especially to an official : not public : personal
a privy symbol
3.
a. : not manifest or apparent : withdrawn from the common knowledge or use : concealed , private
sought a privy place to rest and think
b. : done secretly : furtive in action : clandestine , stealthy
the grim wolf with privy paw — John Milton
4. : admitted as one participating secretly or in a secret : privately aware as a party
privy to their secret
II. noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English prive, from Anglo-French, from Old French privé intimate, confidant, from privé, adjective
1.
a. : any of the persons having mutual or successive relationship to the same right of property
b. : a person having an interest in any action or thing especially deriving from a contract or conveyance to which he is not himself a party
2.
a. : a small often detached building having a bench with one or more round or oval holes through which the user may defecate or urinate (as into a pit or tub) and ordinarily lacking any means of automatic discharge of the matter deposited
b. : toilet 5b
3. dialect : matrimony vine
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- in privy