Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PRIV'Y, a. [Fr. privé; L. privus. See Private.]

1. Private; pertaining to some person exclusively; assigned to private uses; not public; as, the privy purse; the privy coffer of a king. – Blackstone.
2. Secret; clandestine; not open or public; as, a privy attempt to kill one.
3. Private; appropriated to retirement; not shown; not open for the admission of company; as, a privy chamber. – Ezek. xxi.
4. Privately knowing; admitted to the participation of knowledge with another of a secret transaction. He would rather lose half of his kingdom than be privy to such a secret. – Swift. Myself am one made privy to the plot. – Shak. His wife also being privy to it. – Acts v.
5. Admitted to secrets of state. The privy council of a king consists of a number of distinguished persons selected by him to advise him in the administration of the government. Blackstone. A privy verdict, is one given to the judge out of court, which is of no force unless afterward affirmed by a public verdict in court. – Blackstone.