privy

comparative more privy · superlative most privy · alternative obsolete privie

1. historicalPrivate, exclusive; not public; one's own.First known use early 13th c.

   the privy purse

   1 more example

   The king retreated to his privy chamber.

2. archaicSecret, hidden, concealed.

   Nonetheless, in the dark and privy stillness of our minds there are few of us who are not still haunted by worrisome doubts.

   1967, William Styron, The Confessions of Nat Turner, Vintage, published 2004, page 82

3. With knowledge of; party to; let in on.First known use late 14th c.

   He was privy to the discussions.

   1 more example

   William understood Diana more but idealized her less. He was privy to her volatile love life. He knew the tabloids made her life hell, but he also knew she colluded with them.

   April 5 2022, Tina Brown, “How Princess Diana’s Dance With the Media Impacted William and Harry”, in Vanity Fair

plural privies · alternative obsolete privie

1. An outdoor facility for urination and defecation, whether open (latrine) or enclosed (outhouse).
2. A lavatory: a room with a toilet.

   To counteract these degrading effects he advised that the privy should be in every house the room nearest to heaven, […].

   1921, Aldous Huxley, Crome Yellow, London: Chatto & Windus

   Synonyms: bathroom, latrine, necessarium, toilet, toilet room, urinal, water closet, WC

3. A toilet: a fixture used for urination and defecation.

   Arconum—I found two chairs wanting in the gentlemen's room, and the bath room attached applied to other purposes... the privies and urinaries clean...

   1864 January 26, J.G. Lindsay, letter to P.P.L. O'Connel, §8

   Synonyms: big white telephone, bog, can, commode, crapper, crapper trapper, donniker, dunny

4. lawA partaker; one having an interest in an action, contract, etc. to which he is not himself a party.