Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PUB'LIC, a. [L. publicus, from the root of populus, people; that is, people-like; Sp. publico; It. pubblico; Fr. publique; W. pobyl, people; pob, pawb, each, every, every body.]

1. Pertaining to a nation, state or community; extending to a whole people; as, a public law, which binds the people of a nation or state, as opposed to a private statute or resolve, which respects an individual or a corporation only. Thus we say, public welfare, public good, public calamity, public service, public property.
2. Common to many; current or circulated among people of all classes; general; as, public report; public scandal.
3. Open; notorious; exposed to all persons without restriction. Joseph her husband being a just man, and not willing to make her public example, was minded to put her away privily. – Matth. i.
4. Regarding the community; directed to the interest of a nation, state or community; as, public spirit; public mindedness; opposed to private or selfish. – South.
5. Open for general entertainment; as, a public house.
6. Open to common use; as, a public road.
7. In general, public expresses something common to mankind at large, to a nation, state, city or town, and is opposed to private, which denotes what belongs to an individual, to a family, to a company or corporation. Public law, is often synonymous with the law of nations.