Synonyms for privately


Grammar : Adv
Spell : prahy-vit
Phonetic Transcription : ˈpraɪ vɪt


Définition of privately

Origin :
  • late 14c., "pertaining or belonging to oneself, not shared, individual; not open to the public;" of a religious rule, "not shared by Christians generally, distinctive; from Latin privatus "set apart, belonging to oneself (not to the state), peculiar, personal," used in contrast to publicus, communis; past participle of privare "to separate, deprive," from privus "one's own, individual," from PIE *prei-wo-, from PIE *prai-, *prei-, from root *per- (1) "forward, through" (see per).
  • Old English in this sense had syndrig. Private grew popular 17c. as an alternative to common (adj.), which had overtones of condescention. Of persons, "not holding public office," recorded from early 15c. In private "privily" is from 1580s. Related: Privately. Private school is from 1650s. Private parts "the pudenda" is from 1785. Private enterprise first recorded 1797; private property by 1680s; private sector is from 1948. Private eye "private detective" is recorded from 1938, American English.
  • adv confidentially
Example sentences :
  • When you get back, if you get a chance to see him privately, you may tell him there is no danger of that.
  • Extract from : « Brave and Bold » by Horatio Alger
  • Halbert privately came to the same conclusion, and decided to war only with words.
  • Extract from : « Brave and Bold » by Horatio Alger
  • As it will be so privately performed, clothes and equipage may be provided for afterwards.
  • Extract from : « Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9) » by Samuel Richardson
  • If you allow of it, I protest I will go off privately with you, and we will live and die together.
  • Extract from : « Clarissa, Volume 2 (of 9) » by Samuel Richardson
  • But I do a little in the other way, sometimes; privately, very privately, Miss Dorrit.'
  • Extract from : « Little Dorrit » by Charles Dickens
  • It was not his place to inform against the school, privately, to the master.
  • Extract from : « The Channings » by Mrs. Henry Wood
  • He met me aside, and privately bade me go to Roy's (where Charlotte was).
  • Extract from : « The Cavalier » by George Washington Cable
  • I don't mind telling you privately, Mr. Farnham, that I mean to push him.
  • Extract from : « The Widow O'Callaghan's Boys » by Gulielma Zollinger
  • Privately, Andy was afraid chances would not do him much good.
  • Extract from : « The Widow O'Callaghan's Boys » by Gulielma Zollinger
  • He had been privately arrested just before the arrival of Flotte.
  • Extract from : « The Memoirs of Louis XIV., His Court and The Regency, Complete » by Duc de Saint-Simon

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Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019