private

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   not expressed

   secret (or private) thoughts

2. 2
   adj

   concerning things deeply private and personal

   private correspondence

3. 3
   adj

   confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy

   a private place

4. 4
   noun

   an enlisted man of the lowest rank in the Army or Marines

   our prisoner was just a private and knew nothing of value

5. 5
   adj

   Belonging or pertaining to an individual person, group of people, or entity that is not the state.

   In some countries, healthcare is provided by both the government and private companies.

6. 6
   adj

   Relating to an individual or group of individuals outside of their official roles; often, sensitive or personal.

   This book is her private journal.

7. 7
   adj

   Not publicly known or divulged; secret, confidential; (of a message) intended only for a specific person or group.

   The identity of the beneficiaries of the trust is private.

8. 8
   adj

   Protected from view or disturbance by others; secluded; not publicly accessible.

   Can we go somewhere more private?

Etymology

From Middle English privat(e) (“individual, exclusive, private”), from Latin prīvātus (“bereaved, deprived, set apart from, release”), perfect passive participle of prīvō (“to bereave, deprive, release”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) for more), from prīvus (“private, one's own, proper”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *per; compare prime, prior, pristine. Doublet of privy.