pri·vate / ˈprīvit/ • adj. 1. belonging to or for the use of one particular person or group of people only: all bedrooms have private facilities his private plane. ∎  (of a situation, activity, or gathering) affecting or involving only a particular person or group of people: a small private service in the chapel. ∎  (of thoughts and feelings) not to be shared with or revealed to others: she felt awkward intruding on private grief. ∎  (of a person) not choosing to share thoughts and feelings with others: he was a very private man. ∎  (of a meeting or discussion) involving only a small number of people and dealing with matters that are not to be disclosed to others: this is a private conversation. ∎  (of a place) quiet and free from people who can interrupt: can we go somewhere a little more private?2. (of a person) having no official or public role or position: the paintings were sold to a private collector. ∎  not connected with one's work or official position: the president was visiting China in a private capacity.3. (of a service or industry) provided or owned by an individual or an independent, commercial company rather than by the government: research projects carried out by private industry more than 1,400 state enterprises that were about to go private. ∎  of or relating to a system of education or medical treatment conducted outside the system of government and charging fees to the individuals who make use of it. ∎  of, relating to, or denoting a transaction between individuals and not involving commercial organizations: it was a private sale—no agent's commission.• n. 1. a soldier of the lowest rank, in particular an enlisted person in the U.S. Army or Marine Corps ranking below private first class.2. (privates) inf. short for private parts.PHRASES: in private with no one else present: I've got to talk to you in private.

private † applied by Wyclif to the friars XIV; not open to the public; not holding a public position XV. — L. prīvātus withdrawn from public life, peculiar to oneself, sb. man in private life, prop. pp. of prīvāre bereave, deprive, f. prīvus single, individual, private; see -ATE2.
So privation depriving, being deprived XIV. — L. privative XVI. — F. or L. Hence privacy XV (rare before XVI). privateer vessel owned and officered by private persons holding letters of marque, commander of this. XVII.

PRIVATE

That which affects, characterizes, or belongs to an individual person, as opposed to the general public.