Webster's English Dictionary

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private

1. pri.vate \'pri--v*t\ aj [ME privat, fr. L privatus, fr. pp. of privare 
   to deprive, re]lease, fr. privus private, set apart; akin to L pro for - 
   more at FOR 1a: intended for or affecting a particular person, group, or 
   class {~  park} 1b: belonging to or concerning an individual person, 
   company, or interest  {~ house} 1c1: restricted to the individual or 
   arising independently of others {R@ opinion} 1c2: carried on by the 
   individual independently of the usual institutions  {~ study}; also : being 
   educated by independent study or a tutor or in a private school {~ 
   students} 1d: not general in effect {~ statute}  1e: of, relating to, or 
   receiving hospital service in which the patient ha s more privileges than a 
   semiprivate or ward patient 2a1: not holding public office or employment {~ 
   citizen}  2a2: not related to one's official position : PERSONAL  2b: being 
   a private {~ soldier}  3a: withdrawn from company or observation : 
   SEQUESTERED  3b: not known or intended to be known publicly : SECRET  3c: 
   unsuitable for public mention, use, or display {one's ~ parts)> - 
   pri.vate.ly av
2. private n archaic  1: one not in public office  obs  2: PRIVACY  3a: a 
   person of low rank in various organizations (as a police or fire depa 
   rtment) 3b: an enlisted man of the lowest rank in the marine corps or the 
   next to l owest in the army; broadly : any enlisted man in the army or 
   marine corps ranking below a noncommissioned officer : PRIVATELY, SECRETLY  
   - in private