public

comparative more public · superlative most public · alternative publick · alternative publicke · alternative publike · alternative publique

1. Able to be known or seen by everyone; happening without concealment; open to general view.First known use 14th c.

   [O]ur last advices from Spain inform us, that the prince of Asturias had made his public entry into Madrid in great splendour.

   1709 May 15 (Gregorian calendar), Isaac Bickerstaff [pseudonym; Richard Steele et al.], “Wednesday, May 5, 1709”, in The Tatler, number 11; republished in [Richard Steele], editor, The Tatler, […], London stereotype edition, volume I, London: I. Walker and Co.; […], 1822, →OCLC, page 73

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   VVith ſcoffes and ſcornes, and contumelious taunts, / In open Market-place produc't they me, / To be a publique ſpectacle to all: / Here, ſayd they, is the Terror of the French, / The Scar-Crovv that affrights our Children ſo.

   1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene vi], page 100, column 1

   [T]he Apoſtles preached as vvell vvhen they vvrote as vvhen they ſpake the Goſpell of Chriſt, and our vſuall publique reading of the vvord of God for the peoples inſtruction is preaching.

   1597, Richard Hooker, “S. Pauls Writing is No More Preaching, then His Pen or his Hand is His Toong: Seeing They Cannot be the Same which Cannot be Made by the Same Instruments”, in J[ohn] S[penser], editor, Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], 2nd edition, London: […] Will[iam] Stansby [for Matthew Lownes], published 1611, →OCLC, book V, page 222

   Thy [Jesus's] firſt publique miracle graceth a marriage; It is an ancient and laudable inſtitution, that the rites of matrimony ſhould not vvant a ſolemne celebration; VVhen are feaſts in ſeaſon, if not at the recouery of our loſt ribbe?

   1620, Ios. Hall [i.e., Joseph Hall], “[Contemplations vpon the History of the New Testament. The Second Booke.] The Marriage in Cana.”, in Contemplations [vpon the Principal Passages of the Holy Story], […], volume V, London: […] E[dward] G[riffin] for Henry Fetherstone, →OCLC, page 452

   The Parliament alſo permitted General [George] Monck to ſend Mʳ [Thomas] Clarges his brother-in-law, accompanied vvith ſome Officers of the Army, to aſſure his Majeſty [Charles II of England] of the fidelity and obedience of the Army; vvhich had made publick and ſolemn proteſtations thereof, after the Letter and Declaration vvas communicated unto them by the General.

   1660, William Lower, transl., A Relation in Form of Journal, of the Voiage and Residence which the Most Excellent and Most Mighty Prince Charls the II King of Great Britain, &c. hath Made in Holland, from the 25 of May, to the 2 of June, 1660. […], The Hague: […] Adrian Vlack, →OCLC, page 4

   Clear away! There was nothing they wouldn't have cleared away, or couldn't have cleared away, with old Fezziwig looking on. It was done in a minute. Every movable was packed off, as if it were dismissed from public life for evermore; the floor was swept and watered, the lamps were trimmed, fuel was heaped upon the fire; and the warehouse was as snug, and warm, and dry, and bright a ball-room, as you would desire to see upon a winter's night.

   1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “Stave Two. The First of the Three Spirits.”, in A Christmas Carol. […], London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, pages 58–59

2. Open to all members of a community, as opposed to only a segment of it; especially, provided by national or local authorities and supported by money from taxes.First known use 15th c.

   public library    public park

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   I ſavv her once / Hop forty Paces through the publicke ſtreete, […]

   c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii], page 347, column 2

   There are some fields near Manchester, well known to the inhabitants as "Green Heys Fields," through which runs a public footpath to a little village about two miles distant.

   1848, [Elizabeth Gaskell], chapter I, in Mary Barton: A Tale of Manchester Life. […] (Chapman and Hall’s Series of Original Works of Fiction, Biography, and General Literature), volume I, London: Chapman and Hall, […], →OCLC, page 1

   Our late distinguished townsman, Noah Dow, Esquire, as is well known, bequeathed a large portion of his fortune to this establishment,—"being thereto moved," as his will expressed it, "by the desire of N. Dowing some publick Institution for the benefit of Mankind."

   1861 January, “A Visit to the Asylum for Aged and Decayed Punsters”, in The Atlantic Monthly. A Magazine of Literature, Art, and Politics, volume VII, number XXXIX, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor and Fields, […]; London: Trübner and Company, →OCLC, page 114, column 1

   Then it occurred to me that I might be doing a rash thing in going off to an unknown house in a seedy suburb. So I went into a public telephone-booth, rang up the Club, and told the porter that if Colonel Arbuthnot called, I was at 4 Palmyra Square, N.W.—I made him write down the address—and would be back before ten o'clock.

   1924 July, John Buchan, “The House in Gospel Oak”, in The Three Hostages, London: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLC, page 85

   The couple had hoped to be married on the actual steps of the State House but State House police made it impossible. Leary claimed that the police had told him that he would be "arrested" if he crossed the street. "They had no right to say that," he said. "The stairway there is a public stairway."

   1975 December 13, Gerrie Leary, quotee, “‘State House’ Couple Fail To Get License”, in Marion E[lizabeth] Tholander, editor, Gay Community News, volume 3, number 24, Boston, Mass.: GCN, Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 1, columns 2–3

   1. businessOf a company: having shares of stock traded publicly, for example, through a stock market.
3. Pertaining to the people as a whole, as opposed to a group of people; concerning the whole community or country.First known use 15th c.

   [S]tanding publick Records have been kept of theſe vvell atteſted Relations, and Epocha’s made of thoſe unvvonted events.

   1667, J[oseph] G[lanvill], Some Philosophical Considerations Touching the Being of Witches and Witchcraft. […], London: […] E[llen] C[otes] for James Collins […], →OCLC, page 5

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   [I]f the nominated be to a place vvherein he is entruſted vvith the management of public moneys, he that nominates is ſurety for him, and is to make good vvhat he defrauds the Common-vvealth of.

   1673, John Ray, “Of Venice”, in Observations Topographical, Moral, & Physiological; Made in a Journey through part of the Low-countries, Germany, Italy, and France: […], London: […] John Martyn, printer to the Royal Society, […], →OCLC, page 163

   I Profeſs in the ſincerity of my Heart that I have not the leaſt perſonal Intereſt in endeavouring to promote this neceſſary VVorks having no other Motive than the publick Good of my Country, by advancing our Trade, providing for Infants, relieving the Poor, and giving ſome Pleaſure to the Rich.

   1729, [Jonathan Swift], A Modest Proposal for Preventing the Children of Poor People from Being a Burthen to Their Parents, or the Country, and for Making Them Beneficial to the Publick, Dublin: […] S[arah] Harding, […], →OCLC, page 16

   I knew a brazen minister of state, / Who bore for twice ten years the publick hate. / In every mouth the question most in vogue / Was, When will they turn out this odious rogue?

   1731 (date written), Jonathan Swift, “An Epistle to Mr. [John] Gay”, in Thomas Sheridan, John Nichols, editors, The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, […], new edition, volume VIII, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1801, →OCLC, page 118

   Money, being the instrument of an important public and private purpose, is rightly regarded as wealth; but everything else which serves any human purpose, and which nature does not afford gratuitously, is wealth also. […] Everything forms therefore a part of wealth, which has a power of purchasing; for which anything useful or agreeable would be given in exchange.

   1848, John Stuart Mill, “Preliminary Remarks”, in Principles of Political Economy: With Some of Their Applications to Social Philosophy. […], volume I, London: John W[illiam] Parker, […], →OCLC, book I (Production), page 8

   A mere 3% of the more than 1,000 people interviewed said they actually knew what the conference was about. It seems safe to say public awareness of the Convention on Biological Awareness in Nagoya – and its goal of safeguarding wildlife – is close to non-existent.

   2010 September 16, Adam Vaughan, “Public awareness of the biodiversity crisis is virtually non-existent”, in Alan Rusbridger, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 09 Dec 2023

4. Officially representing the community; carried out or funded by the government or state on behalf of the community, rather than by a private organization.First known use 15th c.

   public housing    public officer    public prosecutor    public servant

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   Hee brought-in likevvise the ancient cuſtome againe, that in vvhat moneth hee had not the Knitches of rods vvith Axes borne before him, a publique Officer called Accensvs ſhould huiſher him before, and the Serjeants or Lictours follovv after behinde.

   1606, Caius [i.e., Gaius] Suetonius Tranquillus, “The Historie of Caius Iulius Cesar Dictator”, in Philêmon Holland, transl., The Historie of Twelve Cæsars Emperours of Rome. […], London: […] [Humphrey Lownes and George Snowdon] for Matthew Lownes, →OCLC, section 20, page 8

   [T]hoſe vvho aſſiſt the Commonvvealth in a time of need vvith their eſtates, lending ſuch a ſum of mony as the Lavv determines, have liberty granted them to be preſent in this Council, and to underſtand the management of public affairs (yet vvithout povver of balloting) till ſuch time as their moneys be repaid, and ſometimes longer.

   1673, John Ray, “Of Venice”, in Observations Topographical, Moral, & Physiological; Made in a Journey through part of the Low-countries, Germany, Italy, and France: […], London: […] John Martyn, printer to the Royal Society, […], →OCLC, page 170

   [P]oor Houſekeepers, vvho vvill be glad to accept of ſome private Benefactions, and yet, having lived creditably, till reduced by Misfortunes, are aſhamed to apply for publick Relief: […]

   1742, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter X. From Miss Darnford to Her Father and Mother.”, in Pamela; Or, Virtue Rewarded. […], 3rd edition, volume IV, London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; and sold by J. Osborn, […]; and J[ohn] Rivington, […], →OCLC, pages 59–60

   It is vvonderful, Sir, vvith hovv little real ſuperiority of mind men can make an eminent figure in publick life.

   1791, James Boswell, quoting Samuel Johnson, “[1783]”, in James Boswell, editor, The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. […], volume II, London: […] Henry Baldwin, for Charles Dilly, […], →OCLC, page 440

   Eager to find material for stories, and bent on making them original in plot, if not masterly in execution, […] she excited the suspicions of public librarians by asking for works on poisons; […]

   1869, Louisa M[ay] Alcott, “[A] Friend”, in Little Women: […], 2nd part, Boston, Mass.: Roberts Brothers, →OCLC, page 162

5. Pertaining to a person in the capacity in which they deal with other people on a formal or official basis, as opposed to a personal or private capacity; official, professional.

   public face    public image

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   The first that I lay my hands on, is a treatise concerning 'the empire of beauty,' and the effects it has had in all nations of the world, upon the public and private actions of men; […]

   1709 May 13 (Gregorian calendar), Jenny Distaff [pseudonym; Richard Steele], “Monday, May 3, 1709”, in The Tatler, number 10; republished in [Richard Steele], editor, The Tatler, […], London stereotype edition, volume I, London: I. Walker and Co.; […], 1822, →OCLC, page 60

   The preacher […] who can say any thing new or striking, any thing that rouses the attention, without offending the taste, or wearing out the feelings of his hearers, is a man whom one could not (in his public capacity) honour enough.

   1814 May 9, [Jane Austen], chapter III, in Mansfield Park: […], volume III, London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, page 67

6. broadlynot comparableobject-oriented programmingOf an object: accessible to the program in general, not only to a class or subclass.
7. archaicPertaining to nations collectively, or to nations regarded as civilized; international, supernational.

   [S]uch a one concerns himſelf very needleſsly for almoſt all the publique Quarrels in Chriſtendome, and ſhevvs himſelf zealous for a party vvhich vvill receive no advantage by his diſquiets; […]

   1665, Robert Boyle, “Occasional Reflections. Discourse XVII. Upon Ones Talking to an Eccho.”, in Occasional Reflections upon Several Subiects. Whereto is Premis’d a Discourse about Such Kind of Thoughts, London: […] W. Wilson for Henry Herringman, […], →OCLC, section IV (Which Treats of Angling Improv’d to Spiritual Uses), page 117

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   […] Nicodemus had not affirmed him [Jesus] to be a prophete, but ſayde: whoſoeuer he be, he ought not after our common, or rather publike law, (that is to ſaye, a lawe which indifferently perteyneth to all men of euery ſtate) to be condemned, except his cauſe be knowen before.

   1549 February 10 (Gregorian calendar; indicated as 1548), Erasmus, “The Paraphrase of Erasmus vpon the Gospell of Sainct John. The .vij. Chapter.”, in Nicolas Udall [i.e., Nicholas Udall], transl., The First Tome or Volume of the Paraphrase of Erasmus vpon the Newe Testamente, London: […] Edwarde Whitchurche, →OCLC, folio lviii, recto

8. archaicNow chiefly in public spirit and public-spirited: seeking to further the best interests or well-being of the community or nation.

   Napoleon had been the first man of the world, if his ends had been purely public.

   1850, R[alph] W[aldo] Emerson, “Napoleon; or, The Man of the World”, in Representative Men: Seven Lectures, Boston, Mass.: Phillips, Sampson and Company, […], →OCLC, pages 228–229

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   [T]he ſaid [Joseph] Palumbo vvas reſtrain'd to Saint Lorenzo; but being a popular man, and one knovvn to be a good Patriot, and of a publick ſoul, and a perſon of integrity; there vvere four thouſand of the beſt armed men joyn'd together, to vindicate and free the ſaid Palumbo, […]

   1652, Alexander Giraffi [i.e., Alessandro Giraffi], “The Second Tumults Happened in the City of Naples, Held to be Hotter and Higher than the Former, which Succeeded the 7. of July”, in James Howell, transl., An Exact History of the Late Revolutions in Naples; […], revised edition, London: […] R[ichard] Lowndes […], published 1663, →OCLC, part II (The Second Part of Massaniello, […]), page 43

   Suppoſe I ſhou'd ſtrike firſt, vvou'd it not breed / Grief in your publick heart to ſee her bleed?

   1664 January (first performance), Robert Howard; [John Dryden], “The Indian Queen, a Tragedy”, in Four New Plays, […], London: […] Henry Herringman, […], published 1665, →OCLC, Act IV, scene i, page 161

   As thus vve talk'd, / Our hearts vvould burn vvithin us, vvould inhale / That portion of divinity, that ray / Of pureſt heaven, vvhich lights the public ſoul / Of patriots, and of heroes.

   a. 1749 (date written), James Thomson, “Winter”, in The Seasons, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, and sold by Thomas Cadell, […], published 1768, →OCLC, pages 185–186, lines 593–597

9. archaicNow only in public figure: famous, prominent, well-known.

   I VVas not ſo publick here, as to be very vvell knovvn, at leaſt by any one that had Knovvledge of me in the Country vvhere I liv'd; and this vvas indeed my ſafety aftervvard, as you vvill ſoon hear; […]

   1723, [Daniel Defoe], The History and Remarkable Life of the Truly Honourable Col. Jacque, Commonly Call’d Col. Jack, […], 2nd edition, London: […] J[ohn] Brotherton, […], →OCLC, page 340

10. UKhistoricaleducationIn some older universities in the United Kingdom: open or pertaining to the whole university, as opposed to a constituent college or an individual staff member or student.

    I meruailled, why himſelf [Niccolò Leoniceno] did not practiſe Phiſike of whiche facultee he was a Doctour, and a publique reader: I auaile moche more, ſaieth he, in that I teach all thother Phiſiciãs [physicians].

    1564 February, Erasmus, “The Saiynges of Socrates”, in Nicolas Udall [i.e., Nicholas Udall], transl., Apophthegmes, that is to Saie, Prompte, Quicke, Wittie and Sentẽcious Saiynges, […], London: […] Ihon Kingston, →OCLC, book I, folio 4, recto, paragraph 11

11. obsoleteOf or pertaining to the human race as a whole; common, universal.

    In Iron Clouds conceal'd the Publick Light: / And Impious Mortals fear'd Eternal Night.

    1697, Virgil, “The First Book of the Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 68, lines 639–640

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    In the squares and places you see half-a-dozen of them together, sitting in a social circle on the bottoms of upturned baskets, knitting, talking, and enjoying the public sunshine, as if it were their own household fire.

    1858 January 17 (date written), Nathaniel Hawthorne, “The Mediterranean Sea”, in Passages from the French and Italian Note-books of Nathaniel Hawthorne, volume I, London: Strahan & Co., […], published 1871, →OCLC, page 54

12. obsoleteChiefly in make public: of a work: printed or otherwise published.

    The firſt of his [Hernán Cortés's] diſpatches has never been made public. It vvas ſent from Vera-Cruz, July 16th, 1519.

    1777, William Robertson, “Notes and Illustrations. Note I.”, in The History of America, volume II, London: […] W[illiam] Strahan; T[homas] Cadell, […]; Edinburgh: J[ohn] Balfour, →OCLC, page 441

plural publics · alternative publick · alternative publicke · alternative publike · alternative publique

1. countableuncountableChiefly preceded by the: members of the community or the people in general, regardless of membership of any particular group.

   Members of the public may not proceed beyond this point.

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   In ſũ [sum], you are a Prince, & a father of people, vvho ought vvith the eye of vviſdome, the hand of fortitude, and the hart of iuſtice to ſet dovvne all priuate conceits, in compariſon of vvhat for the publike is profitable.

   The New Arcadia

   a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “[The Thirde Booke] Chapter 19”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC, folio 325, recto

   Here, you, the ſad reuengers / Of capitall crimes, againſt the Publicke, take / This man vnto your iuſtice: ſtrangle him.

   1611, Ben[jamin] Jonson, Catiline His Conspiracy, London: […] [William Stansby?] for Walter Burre, →OCLC, Act V, signature O, verso

   [I]t is not only requiſite that the Prince knovv hovv to command vvell, but that the Subjects obey vvell; and that even vveak Counſels, faithfully aſſiſted, and as much as may be rectified or repaired by thoſe that are to Execute them, may leſs prejudice the publick, than the frovvard and jarring endeavours of Men, that perhaps vvould be vviſer Rulers if they had a right to be so.

   1665, Robert Boyle, “Occasional Reflections. Discourse XI. Upon a Danger Springing from an Unseasonable Contest with the Steersman.”, in Occasional Reflections upon Several Subiects. Whereto is Premis’d a Discourse about Such Kind of Thoughts, London: […] W. Wilson for Henry Herringman, […], →OCLC, section IV (Which Treats of Angling Improv’d to Spiritual Uses), page 78

   And though the public be not ſo rich as it hath been, yet vvill it ſoon recover itſelf and grovv vvealthy again upon the enjoyment of Peace and free Commerce.

   1673, John Ray, “Of Venice”, in Observations Topographical, Moral, & Physiological; Made in a Journey through part of the Low-countries, Germany, Italy, and France: […], London: […] John Martyn, printer to the Royal Society, […], →OCLC, page 154

   [T]he only facts to be conſidered [in the crime of libel] are, firſt, the making or publiſhing of the book or vvriting; and ſecondly, vvhether the matter be criminal: and, if both theſe points are againſt the defendant, the offence againſt the public is complete.

   1769, William Blackstone, “Of Offences against the Public Peace”, in Commentaries on the Laws of England, book IV (Of Public Wrongs), Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 151

2. countableuncountablePreceded by a possessive determiner such as my, your, or their: a group of people who support a particular person, especially a performer, a writer, etc.; an audience, a following.

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   By dint of drinking acid tiff, as above mentioned, and smoking segars, in which I am no novice, my Public are to be informed, that I gradually drank and smoked myself into a certain degree of acquaintance with un homme comme il faut [a decent man], one of the few fine old specimens of nobility who are still to be found in France; […]

   1823, [Walter Scott], “Introduction”, in Quentin Durward. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC, page xiii

3. abbreviationcountableellipsisinformaluncountableEllipsis of public house or (dated) public bar (“an inn, a pub: the more basic bar in a public house, as contrasted with the lounge bar or saloon bar which has more comfortable seats, personalized service, etc.”).

   [T]hese inconsiderate lads will be out of the house, and away to the publicks, wasting their precious time, and, it may be, missing the morning tide.

   1824 June, [Walter Scott], “Narrative of Alan Fairford, Continued”, in Redgauntlet, […], volume II, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC, page 291

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   [I]t is a terrible long and slippery descent, and a shocking bad road. At the bottom, however, there is a pleasant public; whereat we must really take a modest quencher, for the down air is provocative of thirst.

   1857, Thomas Hughes, Tom Brown's School Days

   The bar-parlour at the Green Man was in the oldest part of the pub. It lay at right angles to the Public which was partly visible and could be reached from it by means of a flap in the bar counter.

   1956, Ngaio Marsh, “Camilla”, in Off with His Head (A New Portway Large Print Book), Bath, Somerset: Chivers Press, published 1987, →ISBN, page 26

   Synonyms: alehouse, boozer, boozing ken, bousing ken, drinker, drinkery, gargle-factory, gin joint

4. countableuncountableoften public relationsOften preceded by the and a qualifying word: a particular demographic or group of people, or segment of the population, sharing some common characteristic.

   the reading public

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   the cinema-going public

   But year after year increased the number of Mr. [William] Wordsworth's admirers. They were found too not in the lower classes of the reading public, but chiefly among young men of strong sensibility and meditative minds; and their admiration (inflamed perhaps in some degree by opposition) was distinguished by its intensity, I might almost say, by its religious fervour.

   1817, S[amuel] T[aylor] Coleridge, “Occasion of the Lyrical Ballads, and the Objects Originally Proposed—Preface to the Second Edition—The Ensuing Controversy, Its Causes and Acrimony—Philosophic Definitions of a Poem and Poetry with Scholia”, in Biographia Literaria; or Biographical Sketches of My Literary Life and Opinions, volume II, London: Rest Fenner, […], →OCLC, page 4

   People continually forget that there is a separate public for every picture, and for every book. Appealed to with reference to any particular work, the public is that class of persons who possess the knowledge which it presupposes, and the faculties to which it is addressed. With reference to a new edition of [Isaac] Newton's Principia, the "public" means little more than the Royal Society. With reference to one of [William] Wordsworth's poems, it means all who have hearts.

   1843 December? (date written; published 1843 January), John Ruskin, “Art Criticism”, in [Alexander Dundas Ogilvy Wedderburn], editor, Arrows of the Chace: Being a Collection of Scattered Letters Published Chiefly in the Daily Newspapers,—1840–1880 […], volumes I (Letters on Art and Science), Orpington, Kent [London]: George Allen, […], published 1880, →OCLC, part I (Art Criticism and Art Education), page 21

   Generally, you as a public relations writer have multiple publics starting with your employer and your employer's publics (of course). To the extent that you will use them to reach many other publics, the news media will also be one of your publics.

   2005, Donald Treadwell, Jill B. Treadwell, “Theoretical Influences on Public Relations Writing”, in Public Relations Writing: Principles in Practice, 2nd edition, Thousand Oaks, Calif.; London: Sage Publications, →ISBN, page 19

   1. countableuncountableoften public relationshuman sciencesA group of people sharing some common cultural, political, or social interest, but not necessarily having any interactions with each other.
5. countableobsoleteuncountableChiefly preceded by the: a collective body of a politically organized nation or state; a body politic, a nation, a state; also, the interest or well-being of such a collective body; the common good.

   Synonyms: commonweal, public interest, public good

6. UScountableobsoleteuncountableuniversity slangAt Harvard University: a penalty imposed on a student involving a grade reduction which is communicated to the student's parents or guardian.
7. uncountableChiefly in in public: the presence of spectators or people generally; the open.

   [K]isses, though pleasant in private, are insipid in public.

   1857, Pisistratus Caxton [pseudonym; Edward Bulwer-Lytton], chapter I, in What will He Do with It? (Collection of British Authors; CCCCVII), Tauchnitz edition, volume I, Leipzig: Bernhard Tauchnitz, →OCLC, book I, page 6

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   Come follovv vs, / VVe are to ſpeake in publique: for this buſineſſe / VVill raiſe vs all.

   c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], page 283, column 1

   [W]e went to the Chetto de san Felice, to see the noblemen and their ladies at Basset, a game at cards which is much used, but they play not in public, and all that have inclination to it are in masquerade, without speaking one word, and so they come in, play, loose or gaine, and go away as they please.

   1645 June, John Evelyn, “[Diary entry for June 1645]”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, […], 2nd edition, volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […]; and sold by John and Arthur Arch, […], published 1819, →OCLC, pages 191–192

   [S]he ſcolded me for I believe tvvo hours, on account of having left her, […] But ſhe aſſured me, that if ever I did ſo again, ſhe vvould never more take me into public.

   1778, [Frances Burney], “Letter XXII. Evelina [to the Rev. Mr. Villars] in Continuation.”, in Evelina, or, A Young Lady’s Entrance into the World, volume I, London: […] T[homas] Lowndes, […], →OCLC, pages 177–178

   [M]y particular friend, Mrs. Partridge, the lady I have always resided with when in Bath, would be most happy to shew you any attentions, and would be the very person for you to go into public with.

   1815 December (indicated as 1816), [Jane Austen], chapter XIV, in Emma: […], volume II, London: […] [Charles Roworth and James Moyes] for John Murray, →OCLC, page 267

present singular third person publics · participle present publicking · participle past publicked · past publicked

1. archaictransitiveTo make (something) openly or widely known; to publicize, to publish.

   [H]e is such a barefooted rubber with my supersocks pulled over his face which I publicked in my bestback garden for the laetification of siderodromites and to the irony of the stars.

   1939 May 4, James Joyce, Finnegans Wake, London: Faber and Faber Limited, →OCLC; republished London: Faber & Faber Limited, 1960, →OCLC, part I, page 160

plural publics

1. neologismnon-native speakers' EnglishAn internet publication.

   Russian publics report that the fighters of the Wagner group have already practically taken possession of Soledar, there are fights on the outskirts, where the Vushniks are trying to fight back in the salt mines.

   2023 January 7, Alexander Grigoryev, “Russian public: PMC "Wagner" fighters report that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are using unidentified chemical weapons in Artemovsk”, in Military Review

   1 more example

   Complex inductions are unconscious powerful components of influence. They include the following varieties: […] 4) Truisms. The term comes from the English word "true", which means "truth". Therefore, under truism it is accepted to understand banal truths, i.e. something that in principle does not require confirmation, but it is so banal and common knowledge that it is rather strange to base on it, but here again there is a "but". In our subconsciousness we perceive it as a certain axiom, and this axiom is interpreted by our subconsciousness itself. As an example, the phrase "In matters of war, Russia is Russia, and Ukraine is Ukraine" was repeatedly encountered in Russian publics. In principle, there is no sense in this phrase, because not a single fact is given. However, each of the readers interpreted it for himself, and putting the word "Russia" in the foreground makes a hint that Russia is stronger than Ukraine in military terms, but the phrase itself does not express such a meaning extra-linguistically.

   2023 December, Iryna Rudia, Vaiva Zuzevičiūtė, Olena Gogorenko, Public Security and Public Order, number 34, Kaunas: Mykolas Romeris University, →DOI, pages 219 of 218–225