The Collaborative International Dictionary
Privity \Priv"i*ty\, n.; pl. Privities (-t[i^]z). [From Privy, a.: cf. F. privaut['e] extreme familiarity.]
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Privacy; secrecy; confidence.
--Chaucer.I will unto you, in privity, discover . . . my purpose.
--Spenser. -
Private knowledge; joint knowledge with another of a private concern; cognizance implying consent or concurrence.
All the doors were laid open for his departure, not without the privity of the Prince of Orange.
--Swift. A private matter or business; a secret.
--Chaucer.pl. The genitals; the privates.
(Law) A connection, or bond of union, between parties, as to some particular transaction; mutual or successive relationship to the same rights of property.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
early 13c., from Old French privité, priveté "privacy; a secret, private matter" (c.1200), from prive "private," from Latin privus (see private (adj.)).
Wiktionary
n. 1 (context obsolete English) A divine mystery; something known only to God, or revealed only in holy scriptures. 2 (context obsolete English) A private matter, a secret. 3 (context now rare archaic English) privacy, secrecy. 4 (context archaic in the plural English) The genitals. 5 (context legal English) A relationship between parties seen as being a result of their mutual interest or participation in a given transaction, contract etc.
Wikipedia
Privity is the legal term for a close, mutual, or successive relationship to the same right of property or the power to enforce a promise or warranty. It is an important concept in contract law.
Usage examples of "privity".
An officer of Hussars asks where I am running so fast, and my tongue, quicker than my thought, answers without any privity on my part, that I can render no account but to Prince Lobkowitz, commander-in-chief of the army, whose headquarters were at Rimini.
Twain if published without his privity, we judged it but fair to submit them to him and give him an opportunity to defend himself.
The grand advantage, however, over and above all else, was the entire ease and certainty with which the cooperation of the one man essential to the success of the undertaking could be secured, without need of the privity of any other, viz.
And after will I speak in privity Of certain thing that toucheth thee and me: I will tell it no other man certain.
She knew my heart, and all my privity, Bet than our parish priest, so may I the.
We may well make cheer and good visage, And drive forth the world as it may be, And keepen our estate in privity, Till we be dead, or elles that we play A pilgrimage, or go out of the way.
That ne man shoulde see his privity And as he lay a-dying in a trance, And wiste verily that dead was he, Of honesty yet had he remembrance.
And shut the doore, while we be about Our privity, that no man us espy, While that we work in this phiosophy.
Similarly, there is no such relation of privity between an executor appointed in one State and an administrator c.
We always mean well, and shall perform faithfully what we have promised: And we assure you, this Affair was transacted in the Manner we have related, without our Privity or Consent.
Sandys were the first who embraced the offers of the court, without the consent or privity of any other leaders in the opposition, except that of Mr.
The duke of Shrewsbury likewise complained of his having presumed to send orders to him in Ireland, without the privity of her majesty and the council.
Wherewithall shee barred and propped the doore, and came to me againe, and embracing me lovingly about the neck with both her armes, spake with a soft voice and said, I doe greatly feare to discover the privities of this house, and to utter the secret mysteries of my dame.
All three women regarded my privities, with varying expressions on their faces, and only the liufs Guth knows what expression I must have been wearing.
However she does it, she knows so many privities of our magistrates and legislators that they dare not banish her from the city, as they ought to do.