privity

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English

Etymology

From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Lua error in Module:parameters at line 239: Parameter 1 should be a valid language code; the value "xno" is not valid. See WT:LOL. priveté, privitee et al., (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Old French priveté, from privé + -té.

Pronunciation

Noun

privity (countable and uncountable, plural privities)

  1. (obsolete) A divine mystery; something known only to God, or revealed only in holy scriptures.
  2. (obsolete) A private matter, a secret.
  3. (now rare, archaic) Privacy, secrecy.
    • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, I.ix:
      Him oft and oft I askt in priuitie, / Of what loines and what lignage I did spring [].
  4. (archaic, in the plural) The genitals.
  5. (law) A relationship between parties seen as being a result of their mutual interest or participation in a given transaction, contract etc.
    • 1870, Lysander Spooner, No Treason, Number 6, page 32:
      There is no privity, (as the lawyers say),—that is, no mutual recognition, consent and agreement—between those who take these oaths, and any other persons.

Derived terms