a. [ F. privé, fr. L. privatus. See Private. ] [ 1913 Webster ] 1. Of or pertaining to some person exclusively; assigned to private uses; not public; private; as, the privy purse. “ Privee knights and squires.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Secret; clandestine. “ A privee thief.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. Appropriated to retirement; private; not open to the public. “ Privy chambers.” Ezek. xxi. 14. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. Admitted to knowledge of a secret transaction; secretly cognizant; privately knowing. [ 1913 Webster ] His wife also being privy to it. Acts v. 2. [ 1913 Webster ] Myself am one made privy to the plot. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
Privy chamber, a private apartment in a royal residence. [ Eng. ] --
Privy council (Eng. Law), the principal council of the sovereign, composed of the cabinet ministers and other persons chosen by the king or queen. Burrill. --
Privy councilor, a member of the privy council. --
Privy purse, moneys set apart for the personal use of the monarch; also, the title of the person having charge of these moneys. [ Eng. ] Macaulay. --
Privy seal or
Privy signet, the seal which the king uses in grants, etc., which are to pass the great seal, or which he uses in matters of subordinate consequence which do not require the great seal; also, elliptically, the principal secretary of state, or person intrusted with the privy seal. [ Eng. ] --
Privy verdict, a verdict given privily to the judge out of court; -- now disused. Burrill. [ 1913 Webster ]
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