privy

[priv-ee]

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.

noun

plural

privies 

1. outhouse.

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

privy

/ ˈprɪvɪ /

adjective

1. participating in the knowledge of something secret

2. archaic,  secret, hidden, etc

3. archaic,  of or relating to one person only

noun

1. a lavatory, esp an outside one

2. law a person in privity with another See privity

Word History and Origins

Origin of privy¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of privy¹

C13: from Old French privé something private, from Latin prīvātus _private

Example Sentences

This meant teachers or staff who had not been privy to the email may not have known that Ms Scarff had anxiety.

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He was not privy to those talks, he added.

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Despite not having the most current U.S. fleets, crowds were still privy to a history lesson in American aviationthroughout the program.

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Ultimately, no-one other than Red Bull and Horner and their respective lawyers can be absolutely sure without seeing the documentation, to which they will not be privy.

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In italics, we are made privy to what Harris is thinking during their brief phone call: “Really?”

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