privy
in a sentence

privy as in: privy to her real identity

As a member of the board, she was privy to confidential information about the company’s finances
privy = informed about something secret or not generally known

The spy was privy to the enemy’s plans and was able to warn of the planned attack.

He called on a number of old family friends who still lived there, and from their answers to his queries, Chris pieced together the facts of his father's previous marriage and subsequent divorce, facts to which he hadn't been privy. (source) Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild, 1996
privy = informed

A gander who had been privy to the plot had confessed his guilt to Squealer and immediately committed suicide by swallowing deadly nightshade berries. (source) George Orwell, Animal Farm, 1945
privy = informed about something secret

...in college I was unjustly accused of being a politician, because I was privy to the secret griefs of wild, unknown men. (source)
privy = informed (about something secret)

They were tiny thatch-walled privies on stilts.† (source) Bharati Mukherjee, Jasmine, 1989

Privies were outside.† (source)

How can I ever reel him back to the world of rules and regulations, of protocol and privies?† (source) Steve Lopez, The Soloist, 1995

Come, let us go somewhere we can speak more privily.† (source)

And go back to usin' lamps and privies?" asked Papa irritably.† (source) Olive Ann Burns, Cold Sassy Tree, 1984

I know again why I favor it so much here, how I esteem the hush of this suburban foliage in every season, the surprising naturalness of its studied, human plan, how the privying hills and vales and dead-end lanes make one feel this indeed is the good and decent living, a cloister for those of us who are modest and unspecial.† (source) Chang-rae Lee, A Gesture Life, 1999

show 184 more with this conextual meaning

Since I had sampled several of the Yamacraw privies, the presence of the toilet delighted me.† (source) Pat Conroy, The Water is Wide, 1972

On the landings were privies and padlocked storerooms.† (source) Boris Pasternak, Doctor Zhivago, 1958

At that mysterious colored church, the one with the two towers and the two privies to the rear, that stood all in darkness, a new friend sat straight up on the top church step.† (source)

Is there someplace where we may speak more privily, Your Holiness?† (source)

Said he didn't mind going to Egypt, which was what everybody in town called privies.† (source) Olive Ann Burns, Cold Sassy Tree, 1984

Perhaps we should speak more privily, Your Grace?† (source)

I will hear Ser Brynden privily, in the audience chamber.† (source)

Building more barracks, more privies.† (source)

Mayhaps we could consult privily?† (source)

I have tidings I know you will be anxious to hear, sweet sister, but they are best spoken of privily.† (source)

Besides how she felt about Miss Love, there was how she felt about kerosene lamps, well water, and privies.† (source) Olive Ann Burns, Cold Sassy Tree, 1984

Hurrying by the factory, I came to where the mill hands lived in close-together little shotgun houses — three rooms in a row, like long boxes, with public wells and privies that served two or three houses each.† (source) Olive Ann Burns, Cold Sassy Tree, 1984

Sears, Roebuck catalogues perform their classic function in the crudely built privies, which sit, half-hidden, in the tall grasses behind the shacks.† (source) Pat Conroy, The Water is Wide, 1972

Now turn we to the lady of the same castle, that thought much upon Beaumains, and then she called unto her Sir Gringamore her brother, and prayed him in all manner, as he loved her heartily, that he would ride after Sir Beaumains: And ever have ye wait upon him till ye may find him sleeping, for I am sure in his heaviness he will alight down in some place, and lie him down to sleep; and therefore have ye your wait upon him, and in the priviest manner ye can, take his dwarf, and go ye your way with him as fast as ever ye may or Sir Beaumains awake.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

And when he came to the sea he sent home the footmen again, and took no more with him but ten thousand men on horseback, the most part men of arms, and so shipped and passed the sea into England, and landed at Dover; and through the wit of Merlin, he had the host northward, the priviest way that could be thought, unto the forest of Bedegraine, and there in a valley he lodged them secretly.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

They paste stickers on parked windshields and in public privies.† (source) Ayn Rand, The Fountainhead, 1943

The king consulted with his wazir, and the minister advised: 0 king, wait another year and, if after that thou be minded to speak to him on the matter of marriage, speak not to him privily, but address him on a day of state, when all the emirs and wazirs are present with the whole of the army standing before thee.† (source)

There was a chill wind blowing, and as she passed there came to her nose the mingled smells of wood smoke, frying pork and untended privies.† (source)

At last a white policeman was stationed behind the privies to keep the children away and our course in human anatomy was postponed.† (source) Richard Wright, Black Boy, 1945

Of a summer morning, when my mother had gone to work, Iwould follow a crowd of black children—abandoned for the day by their working parents—to the bottom of a sloping hill whose top held a long row of ramshackle, wooden outdoor privies whose opened rear ends provided a raw and startling view.† (source) Richard Wright, Black Boy, 1945

Privily Clif complained to Martin, "Darn him, he acts like I was a worm.† (source) Sinclair Lewis, Arrowsmith, 1925

It made him feel superior; it enabled him to sneer privily at the Martin Lumsen development, Avonlea, which had a cesspool; and it provided a chorus for the full-page advertisements in which he announced the beauty, convenience, cheapness, and supererogatory healthfulness of Glen Oriole.† (source) Sinclair Lewis, Babbitt, 1922

But for me to turn to the friend who certainly loved me, and say to him: "You are in great danger, I am in but little; your friendship is a burden; go, take your risks and bear your hardships alone—" no, that was impossible; and even to think of it privily to myself, made my cheeks to burn.† (source) Robert Louis Stevenson, Kidnapped, 1886

A few minutes later the mate came fumbling about in search of it, but I returned it privily to Leach next day.† (source) Jack London, Sea Wolf, 1904

Rest assured that His Majesty will be delighted to know that in a time when his hard tack is not sought for by sailors with such avidity as should be; a time also when some shipmasters privily resent the borrowing from them a tar or two for the service; His Majesty, I say, will be delighted to learn that one shipmaster at least cheerfully surrenders to the King, the flower of his flock, a sailor who with equal loyalty makes no dissent.† (source) Herman Melville, Billy Budd, 1924

One evening when Tanis was at the theater, Babbitt found himself being lively with the Doppelbraus, pledging friendship with men whom he had for years privily denounced to Mrs. Babbitt as a "rotten bunch of tin-horns that I wouldn't go out with, rot if they were the last people on earth."† (source) Sinclair Lewis, Babbitt, 1922

George William Vertigan insisted in debate, and afterward privily to Sir Robert Fairlamb, that rats destroy food and perhaps spread disease, and His Excellency must veto the bill.† (source) Sinclair Lewis, Arrowsmith, 1925

Not once did he talk of results of the sort called "practical"; not once did he cease warring on the post hoc propter hoc conclusions which still make up most medical lore; not once did he fail to be hated by his colleagues, who were respectful to his face, uncomfortable in feeling his ironic power, but privily joyous to call him Mephisto, Diabolist, Killjoy, Pessimist, Destructive Critic, Flippant Cynic, Scientific Bounder Lacking in Dignity and Seriousness, Intellectual Snob, Pacifist, Anarchist, Atheist, Jew.† (source) Sinclair Lewis, Arrowsmith, 1925

give this pedestal to the future lion, to hurl such a challenge to the midnight rainstorm, to the treacherous wall of Hougomont, to the sunken road of Ohain, to Grouchy's delay, to Blucher's arrival, to be Irony itself in the tomb, to act so as to stand upright though fallen, to drown in two syllables the European coalition, to offer kings privies which the Caesars once knew, to make the lowest of words the most lofty by entwining with it the glory of France, insolently to end Waterloo with Mardigras, to finish Leonidas with Rabellais, to set the crown on this victory by a word impossible to speak, to lose the field and preserve history, to have the laugh on your side after such† (source) Victor Hugo, Les Miserables, 1862

On being excluded, the old ladies changed their tone, and cried through the keyhole that old Sally was drunk; which, indeed, was not unlikely; since, in addition to a moderate dose of opium prescribed by the apothecary, she was labouring under the effects of a final taste of gin-and-water which had been privily administered, in the openness of their hearts, by the worthy old ladies themselves.† (source) Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist, 1838

And so privily she sent the letter unto Sir Launcelot.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

And when mass was done the king and the queen opened the letters privily by themself.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

I may never believe, said Palomides, that King Arthur will ride so privily as a poor errant knight.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

And then the good Prince Boudwin, at the landing, he raised the country privily and hastily.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

But Anglides privily gat her husband's doublet and his shirt, and that she kept secretly.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

And then anon that damosel picked her away privily, that no man wist where she was become.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

And then he let ordain privily a little vessel, and therein they went, Sir Tristram, Kehydius, Dame Bragwaine, and Gouvernail, Sir Tristram's squire.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

And then privily he wrote unto her letters and ballads of the most goodliest that were used in those days.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

Then privily and secretly he sent letters unto King Arthur, and unto Queen Guenever, and unto Sir Launcelot.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

And when Sir Palamides had received this fall, wit ye well that he was sore ashamed, and as privily as he might he withdrew him out of the field.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

But when Galahad saw there would none turn again he stole away privily, so that none wist where he was become.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

Then said Sir Dinadan privily unto Sir Tristram: Sir, that is Sir Launcelot du Lake that spake unto you first, and the other is my lord King Arthur.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

When La Beale Isoud heard how he was missed, privily she went unto Sir Sadok, and prayed him to espy where was Sir Tristram.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

And the queen sent privily on her part spies to know what deeds he had done, for great love was between them twain.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

King Arthur was warned privily, and sent his people to Sessoine, and took up the towns and castles from the Romans.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

But there Sir Launcelot was lodged privily by the means of Sir Lavaine with a rich burgess, that no man in that town was ware what they were.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

And privily about midnight Sir Percivale came to Aglovale's squire and said: Arise and make thee ready, for ye and I will ride away secretly.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

When Sir Lionel saw him do thus, he thought to assay him, and made him ready, and stilly and privily he took his horse, and thought not for to awake Sir Launcelot.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

And so I hear the people privily say, for of all women I saw none so fair; and therefore, an thou wilt slay my lady, I doubt not but I shall slay thee and have thy lady.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

And ofttimes Merlin would have had her privily away by his subtle crafts; then she made him to swear that he should never do none enchantment upon her if he would have his will.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

And so upon a day La Beale Isoud gat a sword privily and bare it to her garden, and there she pight the sword through a plum tree up to the hilt, so that it stuck fast, and it stood breast high.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

And then Sir Tristram rode privily unto the postern, where kept him La Beale Isoud, and there she made him good cheer, and thanked God of his good speed.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

And so that night they yede unto rest, and all that night the Green Knight commanded thirty knights privily to watch Beaumains, for to keep him from all treason.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

Then Gawaine called privily in council all his brethren, and to them said thus: Fair brethren, here may ye see, whom that we hate King Arthur loveth, and whom that we love he hateth.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

This counsel was not so privily kept but it was understood; for they were but young both, and tender of age, and had not used none such crafts to-fore.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

And in the meanwhile Sir Palomides walked privily out to rest him under the leaves, and there beside he saw a knight come riding with a shield that he had seen Sir Ector de Maris bear beforehand; and there came after him a ten knights, and so these ten knights hoved under the leaves for heat.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

And Sir Palomides might not sleep for anguish; and in the dawning of the day he took his horse privily, and rode his way unto Sir Gaheris and unto Sir Sagramore le Desirous, where they were in their pavilions; for they three were fellows at the beginning of the tournament.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

Then Sir Mordred sought on Queen Guenever by letters and sonds, and by fair means and foul means, for to have her to come out of the Tower of London; but all this availed not, for she answered him shortly, openly and privily, that she had liefer slay herself than to be married with him.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

Then Sir Dinas and Dame Bragwaine brought Sir Tristram and Kehydius privily unto the court, unto a chamber whereas La Beale Isoud had assigned it; and to tell the joys that were betwixt La Beale Isoud and Sir Tristram, there is no tongue can tell it, nor heart think it, nor pen write it.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

Then Sir Launcelot took his sword in his hand, and privily went to a place where he had espied a ladder to-forehand, and that he took under his arm, and bare it through the garden, and set it up to the window, and there anon the queen was ready to meet him.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

So wot I never with what engine the fiend enchafed him, for yesterday he took me from my father privily; for I, nor none of my father's men, mistrusted him not, and if he had had my maidenhead he should have died for the sin, and his body shamed and dishonoured for ever.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

But when the lady heard tell of the duke her husband, and by all record he was dead or ever King Uther came to her, then she marvelled who that might be that lay with her in likeness of her lord; so she mourned privily and held her peace.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

All the barons were privily wroth that the king would depart so suddenly; but the king by no mean would abide, but made writing unto them that were not there, and bade them hie after him, such as were not at that time in the court.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

And so he went privily into the court, and saw this adventure, whereof it raised his heart, and he would assay it as other knights did, but for he was poor and poorly arrayed he put him not far in press.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

So Sir Persant's daughter did as her father bade her, and so she went unto Sir Beaumains' bed, and privily she dispoiled her, and laid her down by him, and then he awoke and saw her, and asked her what she was.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

As the king and Sir Launcelot thus spake, Sir Tristram rode privily out of the press, that none espied him but La Beale Isoud and Sir Palomides, for they two would not let off their eyes upon Sir Tristram.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

And peradventure my lady, the queen, sent for him to that intent that Sir Launcelot should come to her good grace privily and secretly, weening to her that it was best so to do, in eschewing and dreading of slander; for ofttimes we do many things that we ween it be for the best, and yet peradventure it turneth to the worst.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

For, as the book saith, had not Sir Launcelot been in his privy thoughts and in his mind so set inwardly to the queen as he was in seeming outward to God, there had no knight passed him in the quest of the Sangreal; but ever his thoughts were privily on the queen, and so they loved together more hotter than they did to-forehand, and had such privy draughts together, that many in the court spake of it, and in especial Sir Agravaine, Sir Gawaine's brother, for he was ever open-mouthed.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

All this espied the queen, and privily she called unto her a child of her chamber that was swiftly horsed, to whom she said: Go thou, when thou seest thy time, and bear this ring unto Sir Launcelot du Lake, and pray him as he loveth me that he will see me and rescue me, if ever he will have joy of me; and spare not thy horse, said the queen, neither for water, neither for land.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

That is the more pity, said Dinadan, for Sir Gawaine and his brethren, except you Sir Gareth, hate all the good knights of the Round Table for the most part; for well I wot an they might privily, they hate my lord Sir Launcelot and all his kin, and great privy despite they have at him; and that is my lord Sir Launcelot well ware of, and that causeth him to have the good knights of his kin about him.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

Then Sir Launcelot made him ready, and put the red sleeve upon his head, and fastened it fast; and so Sir Launcelot and Sir Lavaine departed out of Winchester privily, and rode until a little leaved wood behind the party that held against King Arthur's party, and there they held them still till the parties smote together.† (source) Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur, 1485

... and to the marriage Her nurse is privy: (source)
privy = informed about something secret

And when he came to the sea he sent home the footmen again, and took no more with him but ten thousand men on horseback, the most part men of arms, and so shipped and passed the sea into England, and landed at Dover; and through the wit of Merlin, he had the host northward, the priviest way that could be thought, unto the forest of Bedegraine, and there in a valley he lodged them secretly.† (source)

Now turn we to the lady of the same castle, that thought much upon Beaumains, and then she called unto her Sir Gringamore her brother, and prayed him in all manner, as he loved her heartily, that he would ride after Sir Beaumains: And ever have ye wait upon him till ye may find him sleeping, for I am sure in his heaviness he will alight down in some place, and lie him down to sleep; and therefore have ye your wait upon him, and in the priviest manner ye can, take his dwarf, and go ye your way with him as fast as ever ye may or Sir Beaumains awake.† (source)

And childe Leopold did up his beaver for to pleasure him and took apertly somewhat in amity for he never drank no manner of mead which he then put by and anon full privily he voided the more part in his neighbour glass and his neighbour nist not of this wile.† (source) James Joyce, Ulysses, 1922

To cotton-field drudge or cleaner of privies I lean,
On his right cheek I put the family kiss,
And in my soul I swear I never will deny him.† (source) Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, 1855

In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.† (source) The Bible, Psalms, 1611

1:18 And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.† (source) The Bible, Proverbs, 1611

And so privily she sent the letter unto Sir Launcelot.† (source)

And then anon that damosel picked her away privily, that no man wist where she was become.† (source)

Full privily a *finch eke could he pull*.† (source)

31:4 Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.† (source) The Bible, Psalms, 1611

But Anglides privily gat her husband's doublet and his shirt, and that she kept secretly.† (source)

I may never believe, said Palomides, that King Arthur will ride so privily as a poor errant knight.† (source)

Out at the door he went full privily,
When that he saw his time, softely.† (source)

And when mass was done the king and the queen opened the letters privily by themself.† (source)

For, God it wot, I have wept many a tear
Full privily, since I have had a wife.† (source)

And then the good Prince Boudwin, at the landing, he raised the country privily and hastily.† (source)

Give me your hand; I'll privily away: I love the people, But do not like to stage me to their eyes: Though it do well, I do not relish well Their loud applause and 'aves' vehement: Nor do I think the man of safe discretion That does affect it.† (source)

I will seek him, and privily relieve him: go you and maintain talk with the duke, that my charity be not of him perceived: if he ask for me, I am ill, and gone to bed.† (source) William Shakespeare, King Lear, 1606

Hither we came, and thence, down in the ditch, I saw people plunged in an excrement that seemed as if it proceeded from human privies.† (source)

Aye, And men that erst for wisdom were held high, Feel thee a thorn to fret them, privily Held higher than they.† (source) Euripides, Medea, -431 B.C.

He privily Deals with our Cardinal; and, as I trow,— Which I do well, for I am sure the Emperor Paid ere he promis'd; whereby his suit was granted Ere it was ask'd—but when the way was made, And pav'd with gold, the Emperor thus desir'd, That he would please to alter the King's course, And break the foresaid peace.† (source) William Shakespeare, Henry VIII, 1613

So privily without their leave I went To Delphi, and Apollo sent me back Baulked of the knowledge that I came to seek.† (source) Sophocles, Oedipus the King, -429 B.C.

This letter he sealed, privily weeping.† (source)

1:11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: 1:12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: 1:13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: 1:14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: 1:15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: 1:16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.† (source) The Bible, Proverbs, 1611

101:5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.† (source) The Bible, Psalms, 1611

64:5 They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?† (source) The Bible, Psalms, 1611

And then privily he wrote unto her letters and ballads of the most goodliest that were used in those days.† (source)

10:8 He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.† (source) The Bible, Psalms, 1611

King Arthur was warned privily, and sent his people to Sessoine, and took up the towns and castles from the Romans.† (source)

This Soudaness, whom I thus blame and warray*, *oppose, censure
Let privily her council go their way:
Why should I in this tale longer tarry?† (source)

11:2 For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.† (source) The Bible, Psalms, 1611

The death he feeleth through his hearte smite;
He weepeth, waileth, crieth piteously;
To slay himself he waiteth privily.† (source)

And when Sir Palamides had received this fall, wit ye well that he was sore ashamed, and as privily as he might he withdrew him out of the field.† (source)

Then said Sir Dinadan privily unto Sir Tristram: Sir, that is Sir Launcelot du Lake that spake unto you first, and the other is my lord King Arthur.† (source)

And the queen sent privily on her part spies to know what deeds he had done, for great love was between them twain.† (source)

"And while we seeke that Divinity
That is y-hid in heaven privily,
Algate* burnt in this world should we be."† (source)

And then he let ordain privily a little vessel, and therein they went, Sir Tristram, Kehydius, Dame Bragwaine, and Gouvernail, Sir Tristram's squire.† (source)

Soon after this, a furlong way or two,<8>
He privily hath told all his intent
Unto a man, and to his wife him sent.† (source)

And then Sir Tristram rode privily unto the postern, where kept him La Beale Isoud, and there she made him good cheer, and thanked God of his good speed.† (source)

But there Sir Launcelot was lodged privily by the means of Sir Lavaine with a rich burgess, that no man in that town was ware what they were.† (source)

And so upon a day La Beale Isoud gat a sword privily and bare it to her garden, and there she pight the sword through a plum tree up to the hilt, so that it stuck fast, and it stood breast high.† (source)

When La Beale Isoud heard how he was missed, privily she went unto Sir Sadok, and prayed him to espy where was Sir Tristram.† (source)

These hundred frankes set he forth anon,
And privily he took them to Dan John;
No wight in all this world wist of this loan,
Saving the merchant and Dan John alone.† (source)

Then privily and secretly he sent letters unto King Arthur, and unto Queen Guenever, and unto Sir Launcelot.† (source)

For which these woeful maidens, full of dread,
Rather than they would lose their maidenhead,
They privily *be start* into a well, *suddenly leaped
And drowned themselves, as the bookes tell.† (source)

And so I hear the people privily say, for of all women I saw none so fair; and therefore, an thou wilt slay my lady, I doubt not but I shall slay thee and have thy lady.† (source)

* *groan
He go'th, and getteth him a kneading trough,
And after that a tub, and a kemelin,
And privily he sent them to his inn:
And hung them in the roof full privily.† (source)

When Sir Lionel saw him do thus, he thought to assay him, and made him ready, and stilly and privily he took his horse, and thought not for to awake Sir Launcelot.† (source)

And privily about midnight Sir Percivale came to Aglovale's squire and said: Arise and make thee ready, for ye and I will ride away secretly.† (source)

And ofttimes Merlin would have had her privily away by his subtle crafts; then she made him to swear that he should never do none enchantment upon her if he would have his will.† (source)

But when Galahad saw there would none turn again he stole away privily, so that none wist where he was become.† (source)

Yet [besides, further] had this Meliboeus
in his council many folk, that privily in his ear counselled him
certain thing, and counselled him the contrary in general
audience.† (source)

Then Gawaine called privily in council all his brethren, and to them said thus: Fair brethren, here may ye see, whom that we hate King Arthur loveth, and whom that we love he hateth.† (source)

And so that night they yede unto rest, and all that night the Green Knight commanded thirty knights privily to watch Beaumains, for to keep him from all treason.† (source)

Arise up early, in the morning, tide,
And at the west gate of the town,' quoth he,
'A carte full of dung there shalt: thou see,
In which my body is hid privily.† (source)

*unless*
What I may get in counsel privily,
No manner conscience of that have I.
N'ere* mine extortion, I might not live, *were it not for
For of such japes* will I not be shrive.† (source)

This counsel was not so privily kept but it was understood; for they were but young both, and tender of age, and had not used none such crafts to-fore.† (source)

As the king and Sir Launcelot thus spake, Sir Tristram rode privily out of the press, that none espied him but La Beale Isoud and Sir Palomides, for they two would not let off their eyes upon Sir Tristram.† (source)

So Sir Persant's daughter did as her father bade her, and so she went unto Sir Beaumains' bed, and privily she dispoiled her, and laid her down by him, and then he awoke and saw her, and asked her what she was.† (source)

* *complain in my hearing*
"I woulde live in peace, if that I might;
Wherefore I am disposed utterly,
As I his sister served ere* by night, *before
Right so think I to serve him privily.† (source)

So wot I never with what engine the fiend enchafed him, for yesterday he took me from my father privily; for I, nor none of my father's men, mistrusted him not, and if he had had my maidenhead he should have died for the sin, and his body shamed and dishonoured for ever.† (source)

Then Sir Dinas and Dame Bragwaine brought Sir Tristram and Kehydius privily unto the court, unto a chamber whereas La Beale Isoud had assigned it; and to tell the joys that were betwixt La Beale Isoud and Sir Tristram, there is no tongue can tell it, nor heart think it, nor pen write it.† (source)

He told me eke, for what occasion
Amphiorax at Thebes lost his life:
My husband had a legend of his wife
Eryphile, that for an ouche* of gold *clasp, collar
Had privily unto the Greekes told,
Where that her husband hid him in a place,
For which he had at Thebes sorry grace.† (source)

And in the meanwhile Sir Palomides walked privily out to rest him under the leaves, and there beside he saw a knight come riding with a shield that he had seen Sir Ector de Maris bear beforehand; and there came after him a ten knights, and so these ten knights hoved under the leaves for heat.† (source)

And so he went privily into the court, and saw this adventure, whereof it raised his heart, and he would assay it as other knights did, but for he was poor and poorly arrayed he put him not far in press.† (source)

Then Sir Launcelot took his sword in his hand, and privily went to a place where he had espied a ladder to-forehand, and that he took under his arm, and bare it through the garden, and set it up to the window, and there anon the queen was ready to meet him.† (source)

And when this book was in his remembrance
Anon for joy his heart began to dance,
And to himself he saide privily;
"My brother shall be warish'd* hastily *cured
For I am sicker* that there be sciences, *certain
By which men make divers apparences,
Such as these subtle tregetoures play.† (source)

All the barons were privily wroth that the king would depart so suddenly; but the king by no mean would abide, but made writing unto them that were not there, and bade them hie after him, such as were not at that time in the court.† (source)

Lordings, the time wasteth night and day,
And steals from us, what privily sleeping,
And what through negligence in our waking,
As doth the stream, that turneth never again,
Descending from the mountain to the plain.† (source)

Then Sir Mordred sought on Queen Guenever by letters and sonds, and by fair means and foul means, for to have her to come out of the Tower of London; but all this availed not, for she answered him shortly, openly and privily, that she had liefer slay herself than to be married with him.† (source)

And Sir Palomides might not sleep for anguish; and in the dawning of the day he took his horse privily, and rode his way unto Sir Gaheris and unto Sir Sagramore le Desirous, where they were in their pavilions; for they three were fellows at the beginning of the tournament.† (source)

Arcite is ridd anon unto the town,
And on the morrow, ere it were daylight,
Full privily two harness hath he dight*, *prepared
Both suffisant and meete to darraine* *contest
The battle in the field betwixt them twain.† (source)

For, as the book saith, had not Sir Launcelot been in his privy thoughts and in his mind so set inwardly to the queen as he was in seeming outward to God, there had no knight passed him in the quest of the Sangreal; but ever his thoughts were privily on the queen, and so they loved together more hotter than they did to-forehand, and had such privy draughts together, that many in the court spake of it, and in especial Sir Agravaine, Sir Gawaine's brother, for he was ever open-mouthed.† (source)

And peradventure my lady, the queen, sent for him to that intent that Sir Launcelot should come to her good grace privily and secretly, weening to her that it was best so to do, in eschewing and dreading of slander; for ofttimes we do many things that we ween it be for the best, and yet peradventure it turneth to the worst.† (source)

The sland'r of Walter wondrous wide sprad,
That of a cruel heart he wickedly,
For* he a poore woman wedded had, *because
Had murder'd both his children privily:
Such murmur was among them commonly.† (source)

But when the lady heard tell of the duke her husband, and by all record he was dead or ever King Uther came to her, then she marvelled who that might be that lay with her in likeness of her lord; so she mourned privily and held her peace.† (source)

He coulde better than his lord purchase
Full rich he was y-stored privily
His lord well could he please subtilly,
To give and lend him of his owen good,
And have a thank, and yet* a coat and hood.† (source)

Then Sir Launcelot made him ready, and put the red sleeve upon his head, and fastened it fast; and so Sir Launcelot and Sir Lavaine departed out of Winchester privily, and rode until a little leaved wood behind the party that held against King Arthur's party, and there they held them still till the parties smote together.† (source)

That is the more pity, said Dinadan, for Sir Gawaine and his brethren, except you Sir Gareth, hate all the good knights of the Round Table for the most part; for well I wot an they might privily, they hate my lord Sir Launcelot and all his kin, and great privy despite they have at him; and that is my lord Sir Launcelot well ware of, and that causeth him to have the good knights of his kin about him.† (source)

And after dinner Dan John soberly
This chapman took apart, and privily
He said him thus: "Cousin, it standeth so,
That, well I see, to Bruges ye will go;
God and Saint Austin speede you and guide.† (source)

All this espied the queen, and privily she called unto her a child of her chamber that was swiftly horsed, to whom she said: Go thou, when thou seest thy time, and bear this ring unto Sir Launcelot du Lake, and pray him as he loveth me that he will see me and rescue me, if ever he will have joy of me; and spare not thy horse, said the queen, neither for water, neither for land.† (source)

He took his coal, of which I spake above,
And in his hand he bare it privily,
And while the prieste couched busily
The coales, as I tolde you ere this,
This canon saide, "Friend, ye do amiss;
This is not couched as it ought to be,
But soon I shall amenden it," quoth he.† (source)

The Sompnour said, "Here shall we have a prey,"
And near the fiend he drew, *as nought ne were,* *as if nothing
Full privily, and rowned* in his ear: were the matter*
"Hearken, my brother, hearken, by thy faith, *whispered
Hearest thou not, how that the carter saith?† (source)

The good wife came walking full privily
Into the garden, where he walked soft,
And him saluted, as she had done oft;
A maiden child came in her company,
Which as her list she might govern and gie,* *guide
For yet under the yarde* was the maid.† (source)

And if a man will ask them privily,
Why they be clothed so unthriftily,* *shabbily
They right anon will rownen* in his ear, *whisper
And sayen, if that they espied were,
Men would them slay, because of their science:
Lo, thus these folk betrayen innocence!† (source)

*unless
He wooed her, but it availed nought;
She woulde do no sinne by no way:
And for despite, he compassed his thought
To make her a shameful death to dey;* *die
He waiteth when the Constable is away,
And privily upon a night he crept
In Hermegilda's chamber while she slept.† (source)

This false thief, the Sompnour (quoth the Frere),
Had always bawdes ready to his hand,
As any hawk to lure in Engleland,
That told him all the secrets that they knew, —
For their acquaintance was not come of new;
They were his approvers* privily.† (source)

*end
To Rome again repaired Julius,
With his triumphe laureate full high;
But on a time Brutus and Cassius,
That ever had of his estate envy,
Full privily have made conspiracy
Against this Julius in subtle wise
And cast* the place in which he shoulde die, *arranged
With bodekins,* as I shall you devise.† (source)

This parish clerk, this amorous Absolon,
That is for love alway so woebegone,
Upon the Monday was at Oseney
With company, him to disport and play;
And asked upon cas* a cloisterer** *occasion **monk
Full privily after John the carpenter;
And he drew him apart out of the church,
And said, "I n'ot;* I saw him not here wirch** *know not **work
Since Saturday; I trow that he be went
For timber, where our abbot hath him sent.† (source)

When Dame Prudence had heard the answer of these men, she
bade them go again privily, and she returned to her lord
Meliboeus, and told him how she found his adversaries full
repentant, acknowledging full lowly their sins and trespasses,
and how they were ready to suffer all pain, requiring and
praying him of mercy and pity.† (source)

Saint Urban, with his deacons, privily
The body fetch'd, and buried it by night
Among his other saintes honestly;
Her house the church of Saint Cecilie hight;* *is called
Saint Urban hallow'd it, as he well might;
In which unto this day, in noble wise,
Men do to Christ and to his saint service.† (source)

Somewhat this lord had ruth in his mannere,
But natheless his purpose held he still,
As lordes do, when they will have their will;
And bade this sergeant that he privily
Shoulde the child full softly wind and wrap,
With alle circumstances tenderly,
And carry it in a coffer, or in lap;
But, upon pain his head off for to swap,* *strike
That no man shoulde know of his intent,
Nor whence he came, nor whither that he went;
But at Bologna, to his sister dear,
That at that time of Panic'* was Countess† (source)

This sicke Damian in Venus' fire
So burned that he died for desire;
For which he put his life *in aventure,* *at risk*
No longer might he in this wise endure;
But privily a penner* gan he borrow, *writing-case
And in a letter wrote he all his sorrow,
In manner of a complaint or a lay,
Unto his faire freshe lady May.† (source)

water, and in he put his own hand;
And in his sleeve, as ye beforehand
Hearde me tell, he had a silver teine;* *small piece
He silly took it out, this cursed heine* *wretch
(Unweeting* this priest of his false craft), *unsuspecting
And in the panne's bottom he it laft* *left
And in the water rumbleth to and fro,
And wondrous privily took up also
The copper teine (not knowing thilke priest),
And hid it, and him hente* by the breast, *took
And to him spake, and thus said in his game;
"Stoop now adown; by God, ye be to blame;
Helpe me now, as I did you whilere;* *before
Put in your hand, and looke what is there."† (source)

This freshe May, of which I spake yore,* *previously
In warm wax hath *imprinted the cliket* *taken an impression
That January bare of the small wicket of the key*
By which into his garden oft he went;
And Damian, that knew all her intent,
The cliket counterfeited privily;
There is no more to say, but hastily
Some wonder by this cliket shall betide,
Which ye shall hearen, if ye will abide.† (source)

*" *pleases
This messenger drank sadly* ale and wine, *steadily
And stolen were his letters privily
Out of his box, while he slept as a swine;
And counterfeited was full subtilly
Another letter, wrote full sinfully,
Unto the king, direct of this mattere
From his Constable, as ye shall after hear.† (source)

*praying
The night came, and to bedde must she gon
With her husband, as it is the mannere;
And privily she said to him anon;
"O sweet and well-beloved spouse dear,
There is a counsel,* an'** ye will it hear, *secret **if
Which that right fain I would unto you say,
So that ye swear ye will it not bewray."† (source)

Now was there then a justice in that town,
That governor was of that regioun:
And so befell, this judge his eyen cast
Upon this maid, avising* her full fast, *observing
As she came forth by where this judge stood;
Anon his hearte changed and his mood,
So was he caught with beauty of this maid
And to himself full privily he said,
"This maiden shall be mine *for any man."† (source)

*except
His brother wept and wailed privily,
Till at the last him fell in remembrance,
That while he was at Orleans <12> in France, —
As younge clerkes, that be likerous* — *eager
To readen artes that be curious,
Seeken in every *halk and every hern* *nook and corner* <13>
Particular sciences for to learn,—
He him remember'd, that upon a day
At Orleans in study a book h† (source)

Then he must eschew the counselling of fools,
of flatterers, of his old enemies that be reconciled, of servants
who bear him great reverence and fear, of folk that be drunken
and can hide no counsel, of such as counsel one thing privily
and the contrary openly; and of young folk, for their counselling
is not ripe.† (source)

But take keep* of the death of Holofern; *notice
Amid his host he drunken lay at night
Within his tente, large as is a bern;* *barn
And yet, for all his pomp and all his might,
Judith, a woman, as he lay upright
Sleeping, his head off smote, and from his tent
Full privily she stole from every wight,
And with his head unto her town she went.† (source)

And thus within a while his name sprung
Both of his deedes, and of his good tongue,
That Theseus hath taken him so near,
That of his chamber he hath made him squire,
And gave him gold to maintain his degree;
And eke men brought him out of his country
From year to year full privily his rent.† (source)

fairest under sun,
And eke thereto come of so high kindred,
That *well unnethes durst this knight for dread,* *see note <1>*
Tell her his woe, his pain, and his distress
But, at the last, she for his worthiness,
And namely* for his meek obeisance, *especially
Hath such a pity caught of his penance,* *suffering, distress
That privily she fell of his accord
To take him for her husband and her lord
(Of such lordship as men have o'er their wives);
And, for to lead the more in bliss their lives,
Of his free will he swore her as a knight,
That never in all his life he day nor night
Should take upon himself no mastery
Against her will, nor kithe* her jealousy, *show† (source)

Warmly approving the counsel that in all
this business Meliboeus should proceed with great diligence and
deliberation, Prudence goes on to examine the advice given by
his neighbours that do him reverence without love, his old
enemies reconciled, his flatterers that counselled him certain
things privily and openly counselled him the contrary, and the
young folk that counselled him to avenge himself and make war
at once.† (source)

* *point
Now was this child as like unto Constance
As possible is a creature to be:
This Alla had the face in remembrance
Of Dame Constance, and thereon mused he,
If that the childe's mother *were aught she* *could be she*
That was his wife; and privily he sight,* *sighed
And sped him from the table *that he might.† (source)

"This is thy daughter, which thou hast suppos'd
To be my wife; that other faithfully
Shall be mine heir, as I have aye dispos'd;
Thou bare them of thy body truely:
At Bologna kept I them privily:
Take them again, for now may'st thou not say
That thou hast lorn* none of thy children tway.† (source)

Wherefore I rede,* that cut** among us all *advise **lots
We draw, and let see where the cut will fall:
And he that hath the cut, with hearte blithe
Shall run unto the town, and that full swithe,* *quickly
And bring us bread and wine full privily:
And two of us shall keepe subtilly
This treasure well: and if he will not tarry,
When it is night, we will this treasure carry,
By one assent, where as us thinketh best.† (source)

This alms shouldest thou do of thine own proper things, and hastily [promptly], and privily [secretly] if thou mayest; but nevertheless, if thou mayest not do it privily, thou shalt not forbear to do alms, though men see it, so that it be not done for thank of the world, but only for thank of Jesus Christ.† (source)

artes that be curious,
Seeken in every *halk and every hern* *nook and corner* <13>
Particular sciences for to learn,—
He him remember'd, that upon a day
At Orleans in study a book he say* *saw
Of magic natural, which his fellaw,
That was that time a bachelor of law
All* were he there to learn another craft, *though
Had privily upon his desk y-laft;
Which book spake much of operations
Touching the eight and-twenty mansions
That longe to the Moon, and such folly
As in our dayes is not worth a fly;
For holy church's faith, in our believe,* *belief, creed
Us suff'reth none illusion to grieve.† (source)

His fellow taught him homeward* privily *on the way home
From day to day, till he coud* it by rote, *knew
And then he sang it well and boldely
From word to word according with the note;
Twice in a day it passed through his throat;
To schoole-ward, and homeward when he went;
On Christ's mother was set all his intent.† (source)

*lost
"And folk, that otherwise have said of me,
I warn them well, that I have done this deed
For no malice, nor for no cruelty,
But to assay in thee thy womanhead:
And not to slay my children (God forbid),
But for to keep them privily and still,
Till I thy purpose knew, and all thy will."† (source)

*same
To which thing shortly answeren I shall:
I say there was no joy nor feast at all,
There was but heaviness and muche sorrow:
For privily he wed her on the morrow;
And all day after hid him as an owl,
So woe was him, his wife look'd so foul
Great was the woe the knight had in his thought
When he was with his wife to bed y-brought;
He wallow'd, and he turned to and fro.† (source)

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Sooty brick, two up, two down, privy out back.† (source)

This meant that I was often privy to their real feelings about those "damn I-raynians."† (source) Firoozeh Dumas, Funny in Farsi, 2003

To the privy ...† (source)

I have never officially been privy to the present location of the Grail.† (source) Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code, 2003

Suppose an unnamed person—an upstanding citizen minding his own business—happened to become privy to inside information about a criminal case.† (source)

"For the newcomers among us," S.Q. said, "let me remind you that you, too, could be privy to the special privileges enjoyed by our Messengers.† (source)

Now she was part of the forty most crucial minds at the company—the Gang of 40—privy to its most secret plans and data.† (source) Dave Eggers, The Circle, 2013

Small details I'm privy to now.† (source) Kathryn Stockett, The Help, 2009

The conversations tend toward legendary occurrences on the island—many of which include acts of bravery or cowardice from the old outhouse or privy period of their lives.† (source)

Even the whorehouse was down there, nothing on the surface but a wooden shack no bigger than a privy, with a red lantern hung over the door.† (source)

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It would have been easy to hate Josie, because Matt was the iber-boyfriend-always glancing around at a party to make sure he hadn't gotten too far away from Josie; calling her up to say good night, even when he'd just dropped her off a half hour before (yes, Courtney had been privy to a display of that very thing just last night).† (source) Jodi Picoult, Nineteen Minutes, 2007

He's probably silently gloating at the fact that I admitted I'm attracted to him, while I'm silently cringing that he's now privy to that knowledge.† (source) Colleen Hoover, Hopeless, 2013

This was news, this was a bulletin—I was suddenly privy to everything.† (source) Alice Sebold, The Lovely Bones, 2002

He says that's because there's only one privy and it's in the backyard and children don't get down the stairs in time to put their little arses on the bowl, God help us.† (source) Frank McCourt, Angela's Ashes, 1996

But between the images, we are privy to the real-life action being played out on the set.† (source) Suzanne Collins, Mockingjay, 2010

A few feet beyond is his privy — a hole with a wooden shanty over it.† (source) Sonia Nazario, Enrique's Journey, 2006

She had already discovered, to her horror, that the bathroom was a privy outside the house, and it had no light for night visits.† (source)

Not a hole-in-the-ground privy toilet that you had to hold your breath to go into, but a bathroom.† (source) Octavia Butler, Kindred, 1979

She's in the privy.† (source) Laurie Halse Anderson, Chains, 2008

She hoped Paul D wouldn't take it upon himself to come looking for her and be obliged to see her squatting in front of her own privy making a mudhole too deep to be witnessed without shame.† (source) Toni Morrison, Beloved, 1987

Nor was I privy to the discussions between the Wandatis.† (source)

Those privy to the warfare within and between these agencies watched Burnham closely but saw no change in his expression.† (source)

Ryan and the four Royal Navy officers who were privy to the mission were on the flag bridge, with the fleet ASW officer in the command center below, as the Invincible steamed slowly north, slightly to the left of the direct course to the contacts.† (source)

This is our privy.† (source)

The Twins were privy to the identities of the Varden's collaborators.† (source) Christopher Paolini, Eldest, 2005

But her husband's allowing his confessor to be privy to an intimacy that was not only his but hers as well was more than she could bear.† (source)

The Count was privy to all his innermost plans for the revenge war.† (source)

Mom's parents had retired to a farm in Abb's Valley, Virginia, and they had a privy.† (source) Homer Hickam, October Sky, 1998

I know you're privy to that information as an angel of death.† (source) Becca Fitzpatrick, Hush, Hush, 2009

Still,' I said, 'you have to admit, you're privy to a lot.† (source) Sarah Dessen, Lock and Key, 2008

At night, if she wanted to visit the privy, Genet had to step out into the elements, passing the open shed where we stacked firewood.† (source)

Things you are not privy to.† (source)

Living with real circus freaks, traveling the world, privy to solemn and magnificent secrets.† (source)

You're shocked about the murders, but you are not privy to the editorial work, so you cannot comment on any speculation.† (source)

"Adam was like no other kid I ever met," says Roger Buschmann, who was privy to Adam's resolve that day.† (source) Eric Blehm, Fearless, 2012

Take it to the privy when I do my hygiene.† (source) Don DeLillo, Underworld, 1997

And what about the stables and the coach house dark as pitch, and the servants' quarters and the six-foot snake I saw with my own eyes curled up on the privy seat last time I was here.† (source) Jean Rhys, Wide Sargasso Sea, 1966

As Director of Rowan, I am privy to all of these missions.† (source) Henry H. Neff, The Hound of Rowan, 2007

It was handsome and regular, with none of the marks and twists which indicate a per-son who has been through awesome times and who has been privy to great and unknown secrets.† (source) Stephen King, The Gunslinger, 1981

A woman's bicycle was propped against the wall of the privy.† (source) Mal Peet, Tamar, 2005

But she was also privy to Kara's situation in the histories.† (source)

I said let's move the privy closer to the house.† (source) Olive Ann Burns, Cold Sassy Tree, 1984

We are not privy to our master's plans," said Mr. Archer in a haughty tone.† (source)

The magus was privy to the reports of his king's ambassador in Eddis and had read them carefully throughout the fall and winter, his personal desires in conflict with his political ones.† (source)

If he was helping to put the briefings together he was privy to some highly classified and potentially valuable information.† (source) David Baldacci, Zero Day, 2011

In my professional opinion, no one who wasn't privy to the first crime, to the stages of it, could have so perfectly mirrored the events in the second two.† (source) J. D. Robb, Naked in Death, 1995

If this is your room, macho boy,' interrupted the girl, swaying in her chair, 'you were privy to private things and we're not like that.† (source)

Felicia feels as though she were in love again, at the center of the universe, privy to its secrets and inner workings.† (source)

He shouted at the privy door.† (source) Orson Scott Card, Red Prophet, 1988

The lieutenant who was their guide was a dapper young man named Pitzer, who liked to gossip, to show that he was privy to great secrets.† (source) Michael Shaara, The Killer Angels, 1974

Her head spun at Stephanie's assessment; it was as if the woman had known her all her life and were privy to her darkest secrets.† (source) Nicholas Sparks, The Choice, 2007

By treaty, in Great Britain the king, in his privy council, determines them.† (source)

"The captain must have his reasons," I said to her, "which I am not privy to and would not speak about if I were.† (source) Chang-rae Lee, A Gesture Life, 1999

(She sniffs) That's all right, I suppose, for them as likes havin' a privy practically in the bedroom† (source)

"Well, a privy," Helen said with a laugh.† (source)

He consulted with Saladin frequently, about what Natalie was not privy.† (source) Daniel Silva, The Black Widow, 2016

Among these was Leonard I, Baron of Taxis, Gentleman of the Emperor's Privy Chamber and Baron of Buysinghen, the hereditary Grand Master of the Post for the Low Countries, and executor of the Thurn and Taxis monopoly.† (source)

Behind the custard stand stood an old unpainted privy leaning badly to one side.† (source)

Wouldn't the mere fact that he had made her privy to such a sensitive matter indicate ...what?† (source) William Styron, Sophie's Choice, 1976

I would hold privy counsel with you concerning it.† (source) Roger Zelazny, Lord of Light, 1967

If there was a fence to be mended, a privy to be built, an errand to be run, or an itch to be scratched, the islanders knew that all they had to do was ask the California boys.† (source) Pat Conroy, The Water is Wide, 1972

That well shouldn't be down-slope from the barn and privy that way — it'll get the seep.† (source) Ouida Sebestyen, Words by Heart, 1968

I believe, as you do, that there is certain information to which the masses should not be privy.† (source) Dan Brown, The Lost Symbol, 2009

I reached the privy and emptied the slop pail, and so forth.† (source) Margaret Atwood, Alias Grace, 1996

Really if he does not know what you do in a privy there is no hope for him.† (source) Margaret Atwood, Alias Grace, 1996

If Madam or Lockton come across me, I'll say I'm on my way to the privy.† (source) Laurie Halse Anderson, Chains, 2008

Before going to bed I open the back door and make my way to the privy.† (source)

As you already know, you are to use the privy in the back.† (source)

One of us here was privy to the rebel plans, worked with one of the bosses there.† (source) Laurie Halse Anderson, Chains, 2008

Through the window, I watched Ruth leave the privy and walk straight to a bench.† (source) Laurie Halse Anderson, Chains, 2008

After we finished our business in the privy each morning, I took her to check our mystery garden.† (source) Laurie Halse Anderson, Chains, 2008

I'm on my way to the privy, I reminded myself No harm in that.† (source) Laurie Halse Anderson, Chains, 2008

As I folded the blankets, Mr. Robert went out to the privy.† (source) Laurie Halse Anderson, Chains, 2008

The Locktons would soon need to dig a new privy hole.† (source) Laurie Halse Anderson, Chains, 2008

Why, with so much land available, there was no proper privy, Abigail could not understand.† (source) David McCullough, John Adams, 2002

I am privy to all of the agony around me, whether physical or mental.† (source) Christopher Paolini, Brisingr, 2008

Where the wall had fallen away, they could see right into the rooms, even into the privy.† (source)

He claimed that you had put a tax on women's privy purses.† (source)

If it please my lord, I would request a privy audience.† (source)

We must assume that Astaroth is privy to any secrets that Augur possessed.† (source) Henry H. Neff, The Second Siege, 2008

He'll be needing you to help him to the privy.† (source)

She lifted her chin and pointed toward the rear of the privy room.† (source) Christopher Paolini, Inheritance, 2011

The White father, Alvin Miller, came out to the privy.† (source) Orson Scott Card, Red Prophet, 1988

A lady need not announce her need for the privy, need she?† (source) Libba Bray, Sweet Far Thing, 2007

He left a sleeping draught, but Theon poured it down the privy shaft the moment he was gone.† (source)

"He himself grew up with just a privy," Red said.† (source)

As the warden to the vestry, my mother had been privy to his pain that spring.† (source) Alice Sebold, Lucky, 1999

After introductions all around, the old lady apologized again for the kerosene lamps and the privy.† (source) Olive Ann Burns, Cold Sassy Tree, 1984

He got halfway to the little wooden privy under the trees and then stopped, spellbound.† (source) Mal Peet, Tamar, 2005

Eragon was privy to Rhunon's every thought and feeling, by reason of their closeness.† (source) Christopher Paolini, Brisingr, 2008

Roose Bolton murmured some words too soft to hear and went off in search of a privy.† (source)

My friends of Frey will not question a lengthy visit to the privy, we hope.† (source)

She had a featherbed to sleep in, and a privy with a marble seat, sweetened by a basketful of herbs.† (source)

The man pushed open the side door and escorted her into a narrow privy chamber.† (source) Christopher Paolini, Inheritance, 2011

While we took turns at the privy, she got out a soft white nightgown for Miss Love.† (source) Olive Ann Burns, Cold Sassy Tree, 1984

I feel as if I am back in the privy again, watching my father die.† (source)

Several men had drunk themselves to sleep, and one was in the privy, being noisily sick.† (source)

Then the father must have walked away, because little Alvin went into the privy.† (source) Orson Scott Card, Red Prophet, 1988

My nephew is not fit to sit a privy, let alone the Iron Throne.† (source)

He felt a call of nature, and found his lordship in the privy.† (source)

The man grunted, grabbed her other arm, and marched her to the privy room.† (source) Christopher Paolini, Inheritance, 2011

The only time he does that is when he seeks the privy for one of his hourlong squats.† (source)

I could tell he'd already forgot about her wanting the privy moved and maybe hoping for a bathroom.† (source) Olive Ann Burns, Cold Sassy Tree, 1984

If I showed him the contents of my privy, he would declare that admirable as well.† (source)

The man was waiting for her when she opened the door to the privy room.† (source) Christopher Paolini, Inheritance, 2011

These days, he took guards with him everywhere he went, even to the privy.† (source)

He had started to undo her manacles in preparation for escorting her to the privy room.† (source) Christopher Paolini, Inheritance, 2011

They started toward the privy room, she in the front and heslightly to the rear.† (source) Christopher Paolini, Inheritance, 2011

Against the other wall was a privy seat, and above it, hanging like doom, was a water tank.† (source) Ouida Sebestyen, Words by Heart, 1968

Reenie and her husband were living in one of the small limestone row-house cottages originally built for the factory workmen — two floors, pointed roof, privy at the back of the narrow garden — not so very far from where I live now They had no telephone, so we could not alert Reenie to the fact that we were coming.† (source)

There's always been conspiratorial conjecture that a select few within this highest echelon of Masonry are made privy to some great mystical secret.† (source) Dan Brown, The Lost Symbol, 2009

Her eyes locked onto mine in the mirror and lingered there awhile, waiting, and I understood that I had been made privy to a secret.† (source)

The actual surveillance had been carried out by his manservant, Rémy—the lone person privy to Teabing's true identity—now conveniently dead of an allergic reaction.† (source) Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code, 2003

It could have been a tale from Gogol with Shalamov playing the part of a well-fed privy councillor impressed by his own rank.† (source)

I was six years old and I knew that I had just been made privy to something very big and important, something far larger than the jewels in the Shah's crown, something larger than my little life in Abadan.† (source) Firoozeh Dumas, Funny in Farsi, 2003

I have heard, many times, the story of Uncle Bulwer Ormsby who was attacked by an owl in the privy—which had no door, "the better to air it out!" the Keelings and the Gibsons and the Ormsbys all claimed.† (source)

There was only one door to the house and to get to it from the back you had to walk all the way around to the front of 124, past the storeroom, past the cold house, the privy, the shed, on around to the porch.† (source) Toni Morrison, Beloved, 1987

He had not uttered a word to anyone about his experiences in Paris several years earlier, but Grail fanatics had followed the media coverage closely, some connecting the dots and believing Langdon was now privy to secret information regarding the Holy Grail—perhaps even its location.† (source) Dan Brown, The Lost Symbol, 2009

Collet was not yet privy to the evidence that had cemented Fache's certainty of their suspect's guilt, but he knew better than to question the instincts of the Bull.† (source) Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code, 2003

I would not have wanted to visit the Keelings—or the Gibsons, or the Ormsbys—on their island before the septic system was installed; but that period of unlighted encounters with spiders in outhouses, and various late-night frights in the privy-world, is another favorite topic of discussion among the families who share the island each summer.† (source)

I cleaned out the ashes from the day before and saved them for sprinkling into the privy, or else for the kitchen garden, where they help to keep off the snails and slugs.† (source) Margaret Atwood, Alias Grace, 1996

I had been using the chamber pot, as I was already in my nightdress and ready to go to bed, so did not want to go outside to the privy in the dark; and when I happened to look down, there was blood, and some on my nightdress also.† (source) Margaret Atwood, Alias Grace, 1996

Whyn't you take it back in the privy.† (source)

Uncle Bulwer was pecked on top of his head during a fortunate hiatus in what should have been a most private action, and he was so fearful of the attacking owl that he fled the privy with his pants down at his ankles, and did even greater injury to himself—greater than the owl's injury—by running headfirst into a pine tree.† (source)

I set down my basket and followed her, just as I was, without my shawl; and I found her on her knees in the wet snow near the privy, which she had not had time to reach, as she had been overcome by a violent sickness.† (source) Margaret Atwood, Alias Grace, 1996

I remember the privy behind our cottage in Kinvara, so the smell doesn't shock me, though the seat is cold.† (source)

I put the packet in my pocket and wade through knee-deep snow to the privy, where I open it in the semidarkness, wind slicing through the cracks in the walls and the slit in the door.† (source)

They told about how the boys pushed over the privy at the back of the school while one of the girls was in it, and they hadn't warned the girl, but watched along with all of the others, and then they felt wrong about it afterwards.† (source) Margaret Atwood, Alias Grace, 1996

After that we saw the henhouse and the henyard, which had a woven willow fence around it to keep the chickens in, although it was not much good at keeping the foxes and the weasels out, and the raccoons too, which were known to be great stealers of eggs; and the kitchen garden, which was well planted but needed hoeing; and quite far back along a path was the privy.† (source) Margaret Atwood, Alias Grace, 1996

I was much alarmed at this; and clutched her hand, and begged her not to go to this doctor, whoever he might be; but she said she must, and I was not to carry on, but I must put the pen and ink back secretly on the writing desk in the library, and go about my duties; and tomorrow she would steal away after the midday meal, and I was to say if asked that she'd just gone out to the privy, or that she was up in the drying room, or any excuse that came into my head; and then I was to slip away and join her, as she might be in difficulties coming home.† (source) Margaret Atwood, Alias Grace, 1996

I threw them down the privy and baked cornbread deep in the night for that was one thing my hands knew how to bake.† (source) Laurie Halse Anderson, Chains, 2008

The worst ones are the gentlemen, who think they are entitled to anything they want; and when you go out to the privy at night, they're drunk then, they lie in wait for you and then it is snatch and grab, there's no reasoning with them, and if you must, you should give them a kick between the legs where they'll feel it; and it is always better to lock your door, and to use the chamber pot.† (source) Margaret Atwood, Alias Grace, 1996

Offence Punishment Laughing and talking: 6 lashes; cat-o'—nine-tails Talking in wash-house: 6 lashes; rawhide Threatening to knock convict's brains out: 24 lashes; cat-o'—nine-tails Talking to Keepers on matters not related to their work: 6 lashes; cat-o'—nine-tails Finding fault with rations when required by guards to sit down: 6 lashes; rawhide, and bread and water Staring about and inattentive at breakfast table: Bread and water Leaving work and going to privy when other convict there: 36 hours in dark cell, and bread and water — PUNISHMENT BOOK, Kingston Penitentiary, 1843.† (source) Margaret Atwood, Alias Grace, 1996

Scraps here were dumped down the privy.† (source) Laurie Halse Anderson, Chains, 2008

I tiptoed down the back steps and flew past the privy and around the side of the house to the gate, which hid in shadows.† (source) Laurie Halse Anderson, Chains, 2008

It was fanciful notion, but I uncorked the jar, snatched a handful, and buried it deep in my pocket just as the privy door creaked open.† (source) Laurie Halse Anderson, Chains, 2008

I was not privy to the details, but I heard Madam talking about jewels made of paste that would sit in her curls.† (source) Laurie Halse Anderson, Chains, 2008

A large plot stretched behind it with a cistern, a privy, a poor excuse for a garden, and at the far end, a carriage house and small stable.† (source) Laurie Halse Anderson, Chains, 2008

She was gone to the privy, no doubt.† (source) Laurie Halse Anderson, Chains, 2008

I quickly carried the scraps bowl out into the yard, walking past the privy, all the way back to the stable wall where straggly holly bushes grew.† (source) Laurie Halse Anderson, Chains, 2008

I was privy to many things.† (source) Alice Sebold, Lucky, 1999

I was never privy to the details.† (source)

Finally, about an hour ago, I received word, through surreptitious means that I dare not go into, not even in your trusted pages, Dear Diary (except to say that one of the staff is close friends with a young woman whose brother serves on the police department, and that through this connection I have been privy to information that otherwise should have never reached my ear).† (source) Stephen King, Rose Red, 2002

I sat on the side of my tub, toothbrush in hand, and wished the house had been designed differently so I wouldn't have been privy to this most painful of moments.† (source) Sarah Dessen, That Summer, 1997

My sisters remembered this time better than I did, as they were older and therefore privy to more information.† (source) Sarah Dessen, Just Listen, 2006

And Lou had been privy to the results of such observations, as she had been enthralled by the readings and musings of some of the most skillful writers of the day, many in the privacy of the Cardinals' modest two-bedroom walkup in Brooklyn.† (source) David Baldacci, Wish You Well, 2001

I am no longer privy to their secrets.† (source) Libba Bray, Sweet Far Thing, 2007

Bram's quarters comprised several old classrooms that had been modified into an apartment with a large common area, two small bedrooms, a snug study, and an old-fashioned privy.† (source) Henry H. Neff, The Maelstrom, 2012

"I'm sure he'll come," the Count said; he was privy to all the Prince's plans, and Buttercup was well aware of this.† (source)

Being privy to the reproductive drama was one thing, but specific details, in all honesty, made me kind of queasy.† (source) Sarah Dessen, Lock and Key, 2008

I knew at the time that he had never been with a real woman, but he seemed to know their intimacies, as if in going through his photos he had become privy to the secrets of lovemaking, the positions and special methods and the favored styles of the moment.† (source) Chang-rae Lee, A Gesture Life, 1999

There was no reason to think so: they did not know each other, they had never met, and Fermina Daza had nothing to do with the decision of the judges even though she was privy to their secrets.† (source)

One of my Cherished Own, she thought; the daughter I can never have, now with child ....So many times at Missing, Matron had become privy to an unspeakable secret revealed by catastrophic illness.† (source)

Mallory, the music, and, of course, the fact that I was privy to either of these things were shockers in the biggest sense of the word.† (source) Sarah Dessen, Just Listen, 2006

Valentine, in the class ahead of me, had a figure that was usually described by boys watching her sashay by as "stacked like a brick privy."† (source) Homer Hickam, October Sky, 1998

"If his head were any larger, 'e couldn't fit in the privy," muttered Loring out the side of his mouth.† (source) Christopher Paolini, Eldest, 2005

Every question is discussed with moderation, and an acuteness and minuteness equal to that of Queen Elizabeth's privy council.† (source) David McCullough, John Adams, 2002

And lest you think that you children will be the only ones privy to such terrible secrets, we will be sharing this information with the rest of the school.† (source) Henry H. Neff, The Hound of Rowan, 2007

Even among the Varden, only a handful of people were privy to her name, and most of them are moldering in graves now.† (source) Christopher Paolini, Brisingr, 2008

I see Felicity dancing with Pippa in the castle, the two of them laughing as if at a joke only they are privy to, and then I see Pippa sitting on the throne, eyes blazing.† (source) Libba Bray, Sweet Far Thing, 2007

Eragon was also privy to the dragon lore Glaedr imparted to Saphira, details about the dragons' lives and history that complemented her instinctual knowledge.† (source) Christopher Paolini, Eldest, 2005

I slipped beneath the netting of the mess tent and slowly made my way across the dusty red clay of the yard, past the officers' quarters and privy, then past the narrow comfort house, its walls rough-hewn and unpainted and smelling of fresh-cut wood, to where the canopy rose up again and the shade cooled the air.† (source) Chang-rae Lee, A Gesture Life, 1999

I'd find a place in some dark corner below the salt, but whenever you got up to go to the privy I could slip out and meet you.† (source)

Mostly it was wine and damp and mildew, her nose told her, but there was a little of the privy too, and something of the lichyard.† (source)

However, since it was impractical for everyone privy to potentially damaging information to master that skill, one of Du Vrangr Gata's many responsibilities was to hunt for anyone who was siphoning off facts as they appeared in people's minds.† (source) Christopher Paolini, Eldest, 2005

A far cry from the way the U.S. Marshalls treated him back in Suskwahenny, acting like he was scum they just scraped off the privy seat.† (source) Orson Scott Card, Red Prophet, 1988

But they could not have informed him of Brom's involvement, for there was no one among the Varden who was privy to that information.† (source) Christopher Paolini, Brisingr, 2008

There is a privy, when nature calls.† (source)

I'd noticed a big hornet's nest in the privy, just under the tin roof, so I bided my time behind a tree till I saw him go in there.† (source) Olive Ann Burns, Cold Sassy Tree, 1984

It is so much easier to obtain someone's cooperation when you are privy to all of their secret hurts.† (source) Christopher Paolini, Brisingr, 2008

It's a good thing Thrower's out at the privy right now, or I reckon he'd wet his pants over that doctrine.† (source) Orson Scott Card, Red Prophet, 1988

Like some sagging slattern who has drenched her privy parts in perfume to drown the stench between her legs.† (source)

And one day he's like to make me even shorter ... He found a privy and sighed gratefully as he relieved himself of the morning's wine.† (source)

Someone had dug a privy trench in the very spot where he'd once knelt before the king to say his vows.† (source)

Continuing the strand of conversation he had been privy to, Roran said, "This magic is a tricky business."† (source) Christopher Paolini, Brisingr, 2008

Meryn Trant claimed that Strong took neither food nor drink, and Boros Blount went so far as to say he had never seen the man use the privy.† (source)

But she didn't once in the whole time we were there admit she had a privy, too, or mention her well water and lamplight.† (source) Olive Ann Burns, Cold Sassy Tree, 1984

She had a dressing room and a privy of her own now, and a balcony of carved white stone that looked off across the Vale.† (source)

That young man had a way of looking as though he knew some secret jest that only he was privy to; Catelyn had never liked it.† (source)

Murtagh said something with his thoughts, but Eragon did not know what it was, for it was directed to Glaedr alone, and Eragon was privy only to Glaedr's reaction.† (source) Christopher Paolini, Inheritance, 2011

Furthermore, with Arya and Nasuada privy to their conversation, Eragon was reluctant to address topics of a more personal nature, such as whether Saphira had forgiven him for forcing her to leave him in Helgrind.† (source) Christopher Paolini, Brisingr, 2008

She stared at him, confused, as he muttered about a privy and a crossbow, and said her father's name.† (source)

The brothel was a shed no bigger than a privy, its red lantern creaking in the wind, a bloodshot eye peering through the blackness.† (source)

He put in a nice new privy, and had a new well dug right by the back porch so you didn't have to go in the yard to draw water.† (source) Olive Ann Burns, Cold Sassy Tree, 1984

Not able to leave her privy, more like.† (source)

IfYour Grace wishes a privy word with Gylo Rhegan or the Tattered Prince, I could bring them up to your apartments.† (source)

If the tales coming up the kingsroad could be believed, the King's Hand had been murdered by his dwarf son whilst sitting on a privy.† (source)

It was a few days after Alebelly's bath that Ser Rodrik returned to Winterfell with his prisoner, a fleshy young man with fat moist lips and long hair who smelled like a privy, even worse than Alebelly had.† (source)

She found herself spending more and more time abed, until she reached the point where she did not rise at all except to use her privy.† (source)

But the stink that filled the privy gave ample evidence that the oft-repeated jape about his father was just another lie.† (source)

When he released her from the restraints so that she could visit the privy room, she found she was too weak to make any attempt to grab the knife on the tray of food.† (source) Christopher Paolini, Inheritance, 2011

Grandpa must of been twenty-five at least when he turned over the privy at the depot with a Yankee railroad bigwig in it.† (source) Olive Ann Burns, Cold Sassy Tree, 1984

The man had, as always, placed the food tray by the base of the far wall, close to where Murtagh had been sitting and perhaps ten feet from the door to the privy room.† (source) Christopher Paolini, Inheritance, 2011

Also, I knew I'd be embarrassed if she was sweaty and lintheaded from the factory or if, Lord forbid, I saw her coming out of a privy.† (source) Olive Ann Burns, Cold Sassy Tree, 1984

He found his father where he knew he'd find him, seated in the dimness of the privy tower, bedrobe hiked up around his hips.† (source)

Out of gratitude we give them a place beneath our roof and make them privy to all our shames and secrets, a part of every council.† (source)

Lord Rodrik was seldom seen without a book in hand, be it in the privy, on the deck of his Sea Song, or whilst holding audience.† (source)

She swept out the old rushes and scattered fresh sweet-smelling ones, laid a fresh fire in the hearth, changed the linens and fluffed the featherbed, emptied the chamber pots down the privy shaft and scrubbed them out, carried an armload of soiled clothing to the washerwomen, and brought up a bowl of crisp autumn pears from the kitchen.† (source)

Doggit, woman, you got us eatin' in the dang dinin' room weekdays as well as Sundays; now you talkin' bout movin' the privy.† (source) Olive Ann Burns, Cold Sassy Tree, 1984

Tyrion closed his eyes to bring her face to mind, but instead he saw his father, squatting on a privy with his bedrobe hiked up about his waist.† (source)

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meaning too rare to warrant focus:

show 1 examples with meaning too rare to warrant focus

The jail was Maycomb's only conversation piece: its detractors said it looked like a Victorian privy; (source) Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, 1960
privy = outdoor toilet

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privyin a sentence

privy as in: privy to her real identity

meaning too rare to warrant focus:

privy
in a sentence