privy
pronunciation
How to pronounce privy in British English:
UK [ˈprɪvi]
How to pronounce privy in American English:
US [ˈprɪvi]
-
- Noun:
- a room equipped with toilet facilities
- a small outbuilding with a bench having holes through which a user can defecate
-
- Adjective:
- hidden from general view or use
- (followed by `to') informed about something secret or not generally known
Word Origin
- privy (adj.)
- "private," early 13c., from Old French privé "friendly, intimate; a private place," from Latin privatus "private, personal" (see private (adj.)). Meaning "participating in (a secret)" (usually with to) is attested from late 14c. Related: Privily. Privy Council is from c. 1300 in a general sense; specifically of the British government, first attested late 14c., as consaile priue. Privy member "organ of sex" is from late 13c.
- privy (n.)
- "toilet," c. 1200, from Old French privé, privee "latrine," literally "private place," from noun use of adjective privé (see privy (adj.)).
Example
- 1. Contact the undersigned to be privy to this mail .
- 2. I am not privy to any private information about the company , but I ' ve said publicly that I admire the founders and the kind of business they have been able to build so quickly .
- 3. Clearly , the bishop was privy to parish records .
- 4. Say you are a member of a volleyball league and you want to be privy to real-time game updates .
- 5. All efforts should also be made to ensure that consumers were privy to data on genetically modified food products .