privy

The story

1. Latin · derived fromprīvātus“deprived”
2. Old French · derived fromprivé“private”
3. Middle English · inherited frompryvy
4. English todayprivy

From Middle English pryvy, prive, from Old French privé (“private”), from Latin prīvātus (“deprived”), perfect passive participle of prīvō (“to bereave, deprive; to free, release”). Doublet of private.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from early 13th c. Private, exclusive; not public; one's own.
• from late 14th c. With knowledge of; party to; let in on.