Emily Dickinson Lexicon

private, adj. [L. prīvāt-us, withdrawn from public life, deprived of office, peculiar to oneself, private < prīv-āre, bereave, deprive < prīv-us, single, individual, private, peculiar, deprived.] (webplay: known, private interest, secrecy).

1. Silent; unseen; undetected; unperceived by sight; not audible to hearing.
2. Personal; own; individual; peculiar; particular; confidential; secret; unrevealed.