privy en · ADJ
Pronunciation
Etymology
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.
Meanings
-
(historical) Private, exclusive; not public; one's own.
The king retreated to his privy chamber.
the privy purse
-
(archaic) Secret, 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:
-
With knowledge of; party to; let in on.
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:He was privy to the discussions.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| most privy | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| more privy | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| privie | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic |
Deriveds
privily · privy council · privy member · nonprivy · privy councillor · privy mark · privy parts · priviness · privy seal · privy-house · privy house
Relateds
Translations (52)
nl uniek (private, exclusive, particular) · es enterado (with knowledge of; party to; let in on) · pt particular (private, exclusive, particular) · bg посветен (with knowledge of; party to; let in on) · pl prywatny (private, exclusive, particular) · fr unique (private, exclusive, particular) · fr privé (private, exclusive, particular) · pt exclusivo (private, exclusive, particular) · hu magán (private, exclusive, particular) · fi perillä (with knowledge of; party to; let in on) · cs informovaný (with knowledge of; party to; let in on) · cs zasvěcený (with knowledge of; party to; let in on) · nl privé (private, exclusive, particular) · de geheim (private, exclusive, particular) · ru прива́тный (private, exclusive, particular) · es al tanto (with knowledge of; party to; let in on) · mk по́светен (with knowledge of; party to; let in on) · fi tietoinen (with knowledge of; party to; let in on) · hu tudomása van (with knowledge of; party to; let in on) · ru в ку́рсе (private, exclusive, particular) · ru в ку́рсе (with knowledge of; party to; let in on) · fr instruit (with knowledge of; party to; let in on) · ru осведомлённый (with knowledge of; party to; let in on) · fa محرم (with knowledge of; party to; let in on) · fi yksityinen (private, exclusive, particular) · ru посвящённый (with knowledge of; party to; let in on) · nl ingeweid (with knowledge of; party to; let in on) · de eingeweiht (with knowledge of; party to; let in on) · nl exclusief (private, exclusive, particular) · hu beavatott (with knowledge of; party to; let in on) · pt privado (private, exclusive, particular) · mk и́склучив (private, exclusive, particular) · el κοινωνός (with knowledge of; party to; let in on) · pt confidencial (private, exclusive, particular) · pl wtajemniczony (with knowledge of; party to; let in on) · bg осведомен (with knowledge of; party to; let in on) · mk при́ватен (private, exclusive, particular) · nl medeplichtig (with knowledge of; party to; let in on) · ru ча́стный (private, exclusive, particular) · hu titkos (private, exclusive, particular) · es cómplice (with knowledge of; party to; let in on) · mk ли́чен (private, exclusive, particular) · de in Kenntnis (with knowledge of; party to; let in on) · fr complice (with knowledge of; party to; let in on) · ru ли́чный (private, exclusive, particular) · hu tudomással bír (with knowledge of; party to; let in on) · sv invigd (with knowledge of; party to; let in on) · fi salainen (private, exclusive, particular) · fr exclusif (private, exclusive, particular) · pt privativo (private, exclusive, particular) · hu saját (private, exclusive, particular) · mk у́патен (with knowledge of; party to; let in on)