## Meanings
1. Open to or shared by all the people, not limited to a private group; often provided by the government.
2. Relating to the people or community as a whole.
3. Done or seen openly, so that anyone can know about it.
4. People in general, thought of as a whole group.
5. A group of people who share a particular interest.

## Examples
- We spent the afternoon reading in the public library.
- The new tax laws caused a lot of public anger.
- The actor made a public apology for his rude comments.
- The returning soldier was a hero in the eyes of the public.
- This kind of article appeals to the reading public.

## Antonyms
- nonpublic
- private
- unpublic

## Derived Forms
- akpm
- antipublic
- counterpublic
- non-public
- nonpublic
- overpublic
- parapublic
- prepublic
- pubcaster
- pubcasting
- public-hearted
- public-house

## Related Forms
- people
- population
- pub
- publican
- publication
- publicise
- publicist
- publicity
- publicize
- publish
- republic

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *pleh₁-
- Root: publik
- Root: public
- Root: pūblicus
- Root: *poplos

## Etymology
The adjective and noun are derived from Late Middle English publik, publike (“(adjective) generally observable, public; relating to the general public or public affairs; (noun) a generally observable place or situation”), from Anglo-Norman public, publik, publique, Middle French public, publique, and Old French public (“(adjective) generally observable, public; relating to the general public; official; (noun) community or its members collectively; nation, state; audience, spectators collectively”) (modern French public, publique (obsolete)); and from their etymon Latin pūblicus (“of or belongi…

## AI Etymology
Public: The adjective and noun are derived from Late Middle English publik, publike (“(adjective) generally observable, public; relating to the general public or public affairs; (noun) a generally observable place or situation”), from Anglo-Norman public, publik, publique, Middle French public, publique, and Old French public (“(adjective) generally observable, public; relating to the general public; official; (noun) community or its members collectively; nation, state; audience, spectators collectively”) (modern French public, publique (obsolete)); and from their etymon Latin pūblicus. The historical chain includes *pleh₁- (Proto-Indo-European), publik (Middle English), public (xno), public (Middle French), public (Old French), pūblicus (Latin). In present-day English it covers open to or shared by all the people, not limited to a private group; often provided by the government, relating to the people or community as a whole, and done or seen openly, so that anyone can know about it.

## Topics
- People & Society

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