"private," c.1225, from O.Fr. privé, from L. privatus (see private). Meaning "participating in a secret" (usually with to) is attested from 1390. The noun meaning "toilet" is c.1225, from O.Fr. privé, from the adj. Privy Council is from c.1300 in a general sense; specifically of the British government, first attested 1375, as consaile priue.
Coun"cil\ (koun"s[i^]l), n. [F. concile, fr. L. concilium; con- + calare to call, akin to Gr. ??? to call, and E. hale, v., haul. Cf. Conciliate. This word is often confounded with counsel, with which it has no connection.]1. An assembly of men summoned or convened for consultation, deliberation, or advice; as, a council of physicians for consultation in a critical case. 2. A body of man elected or appointed to constitute an advisory or a legislative assembly; as, a governor's council; a city council. An old lord of the council rated me the other day. --Shak. 3. Act of deliberating; deliberation; consultation. Satan . . . void of rest, His potentates to council called by night. --Milton. O great in action and in council wise. --Pope. Aulic council. See under Aulic. Cabinet council. See under Cabinet. City council, the legislative branch of a city government, usually consisting of a board of aldermen and common council, but sometimes otherwise constituted. Common council. See under Common. Council board, Council table, the table round which a council holds consultation; also, the council itself in deliberation. Council chamber, the room or apartment in which a council meets. Council fire, the ceremonial fire kept burning while the Indians hold their councils. [U.S.] --Bartlett. Council of war, an assembly of officers of high rank, called to consult with the commander in chief in regard to measures or importance or nesessity. Ecumenical council (Eccl.), an assembly of prelates or divines convened from the whole body of the church to regulate matters of doctrine or discipline. Executive council, a body of men elected as advisers of the chief magistrate, whether of a State or the nation. [U.S.] Legislative council, the upper house of a legislature, usually called the senate. Privy council. See under Privy. [Eng.] Syn: Assembly; meeting; congress; diet; parliament; convention; convocation; synod.
Pri"vate\ (?; 48), a. [L. privatus apart from the state, peculiar to an individual, private, properly p. p. of privare to bereave, deprive, originally, to separate, fr. privus single, private, perhaps originally, put forward (hence, alone, single) and akin to prae before. See Prior, a., and cf. Deprive, Privy, a.]1. Belonging to, or concerning, an individual person, company, or interest; peculiar to one's self; unconnected with others; personal; one's own; not public; not general; separate; as, a man's private opinion; private property; a private purse; private expenses or interests; a private secretary. 2. Sequestered from company or observation; appropriated to an individual; secret; secluded; lonely; solitary; as, a private room or apartment; private prayer. Reason . . . then retires Into her private cell when nature rests. --Milton. 3. Not invested with, or engaged in, public office or employment; as, a private citizen; private life. --Shak. A private person may arrest a felon. --Blackstone. 4. Not publicly known; not open; secret; as, a private negotiation; a private understanding. 5. Having secret or private knowledge; privy. [Obs.] Private act or statute, a statute exclusively for the settlement of private and personal interests, of which courts do not take judicial notice; -- opposed to a general law, which operates on the whole community . Private nuisance or wrong. See Nuisance. Private soldier. See Private, n., 5. Private way, a right of private passage over another man's ground. --Kent.
![[P]](http://cache.lexico.com/g/d/premium_mh.gif){kind=small}
Audio Help [priv-ee] Pronunciation Key adjective, priv·i·er, priv·i·est, noun, plural priv·ies. 
