privy

American  

[priv-ee] / ˈprɪv i /

adjective

privier, priviest

1. participating in the knowledge of something private or secret (usually followed byto ).

   Many persons were privy to the plot.

2. private; assigned to private uses.

3. belonging or pertaining to some particular person, especially with reference to a sovereign.

4. secret, concealed, hidden, or secluded.

5. acting or done in secret.

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noun

plural

privies

1. outhouse.

2. Law. a person participating directly in or having a derivative interest in a legal transaction.

privy British  

/ ˈprɪvɪ /

adjective

1. participating in the knowledge of something secret

2. archaic secret, hidden, etc

3. archaic of or relating to one person only

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noun

1. a lavatory, esp an outside one

2. law a person in privity with another See privity

Etymology

Origin of privy

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English prive, from Old French: “private” (adjective), “close friend, private place” (noun), from Latin prīvātus private

Example Sentences

Only a blink of time had passed, and wandering souls weren’t privy to these visions from the Afterlife.

From Literature

I’ve been privy to someone’s absurd envy over a rival’s bigger jet and heard people running huge enterprises speak of wanting to start another one at 70.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Now there are seven of us,” Charlie called back with the score, “and none in the privy.”

From Literature

Kemp's witness statement says that in those years, he was "privy" to detailed intelligence that spoke to Adams' historic and current activities in the IRA.

From BBC

That scenario had been briefed days earlier to the Gang of Eight—the top Republicans and Democrats in Congress privy to the most sensitive U.S. intelligence about national-security matters.

From The Wall Street Journal