privy

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈprɪvi/ UK /ˈprɪvi/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like prithee /ð/ vs /v/

Freq #16016

Meanings

1

adj
sharing secret or private knowledge of something, normally followed by to

Only the trustees were privy to the details of the settlement.
2

adj
private, secret, or belonging to a sovereign's personal council; formal or historical

The matter was referred to the privy council for advice.
3

noun
a toilet, especially a small outdoor building containing one; old-fashioned

The remote cabin had a privy behind the woodshed.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · sharing secret or private... informed awarein the know

2 adj · private, secret, or... private confidential secret

3 noun · a toilet, especially a... outhouselatrine

Opposites

unaware public

Word family

Forms privies

Derived forms privily

Related forms private privacyprivityprivy council

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

privy council
a group of advisers who counsel a monarch or ruler

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Middle English pryvy, through Old French prive, 'private,' from Latin privatus, 'set apart, private.' The senses developed from what is secluded or known only to a few; the toilet sense names a private, screened place.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives Register & Style

External links

# privy

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈprɪvi/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈprɪvi/
**Frequency rank:** 16016

## Meanings
1. sharing secret or private knowledge of something, normally followed by to
2. private, secret, or belonging to a sovereign's personal council; formal or historical
3. a toilet, especially a small outdoor building containing one; old-fashioned

## Examples
- Only the trustees were privy to the details of the settlement.
- The matter was referred to the privy council for advice.
- The remote cabin had a privy behind the woodshed.

## Synonyms
- informed
- confidential
- secret
- outhouse
- latrine

## Antonyms
- unaware
- public

## Derived Forms
- privily

## Related Forms
- private
- privacy
- privity
- privy council

## Etymology
From Middle English pryvy, through Old French prive, 'private,' from Latin privatus, 'set apart, private.' The senses developed from what is secluded or known only to a few; the toilet sense names a private, screened place.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives
- Register & Style

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