King James Bible Dictionary

PRI'VATE, adjective [Latin privatus, from privo, to bereave, properly to strip or separate; privus, singular, several, peculiar to one's self, that is, separate; rapio, diripio, eripio; privo for perivo or berivo.]

1. Properly, separate; unconnected with others; hence, peculiar to one's self; belonging to or concerning an individual only; as a man's private opinion, business or concerns; private property; the king's private purse; a man's private expenses. Charge the money to my private account in the company's books.

2. Peculiar to a number in a joint concern, to a company or body politic; as the private interest of a family, of a company or of a state; opposed to public, or to the general interest of nations.

3. Sequestered from company or observation; secret; secluded; as a private cell; a private room or apartment; private prayer.

4. Not publicly known; not open; as a private negotiation.

5. Not invested with public office or employment; as a private man or citizen; private lift.

A private person may arrest a felon.

6. Individual; personal; in contradistinction from public or national; as private interest.

Private way, in law, is a way or passage in which a man has an interest and right, though the ground may belong to another person. In common language, a private way may be a secret way, one not known or public.

A private act or statute, is one which operates on an individual or company only; opposed to a general law, which operates on the whole community.

A private nuance or wrong, is one which affects an individual.

In private secretly; not openly or publicly.

PRI'VATE, noun A secret message; particular business. [Unusual.]

1. A common soldier.

PRIVATEE'R, noun [from private.] A ship or vessel of war owned and equipped by a private man or by individuals, at their own expense, to seize or plunder the ships of an enemy in war. Such a ship must be licensed or commissioned by government, or it is a pirate.

PRIVATEE'R, verb intransitive To cruise in a commissioned private ship against an enemy, for seizing their ships or annoying their commerce.

PRI'VATELY, adverb In a secret manner; not openly or publicly.

1. In a manner affecting an individual or company. He is not privately benefited.

PRI'VATENESS, noun Secrecy; privacy.

1. Retirement; seclusion from company or society.

2. The state of an individual in the rank of common citizens, or not invested with office.