privy
/ˈprɪvi/
adjective
Origin
Latin
privatus — withdrawn, set apart
Overview
Meaning Now
- Sharing in the knowledge of something secret or private.
- A toilet, especially one located in a small shed outside a house.
Literal older meaning
Apart or set aside.
Language path
Latin → Old French → Middle English → English
Earliest form
privé
Earliest period
13th century
Journey
The term originally denoted something 'private' or 'secret'. In medieval contexts, a 'privy chamber' was a private room. By the 15th century, the term shifted to denote a 'privy house' or 'privy place', which eventually became the common term for an outdoor toilet.
Evolution
- Latin
privatus
“withdrawn from public life”
- Old French
privé
“private, intimate, familiar”
- Middle English
privy
“hidden, secret, or a private room”
- Modern English
privy
“having shared knowledge or referring to an outhouse”
Connections
Word parts
priv-
root
apart, private
-y
suffix
forming an adjective or noun
Related across languages
French
privé
private
Spanish
privado
private
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Related to privy
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.