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REFERENCE

privy

adj.
C2 Proficiency US //ˈpɹɪvi// UK //pɹˈɪvi// privy Archaic

adj. to share a secret or have access to private information. You use this when you are part of a small group that knows something others do not.

adj. sharing in the knowledge of something secret or private. Typically follows a linking verb and requires the preposition 'to'.


SIMPLE

Only a few people were privy to the secret plan.

CONTEXTUAL

As the CEO's personal assistant, she was privy to confidential discussions regarding the upcoming merger.

COMPLEX

The legal team was not privy to the internal emails until the court ordered their release during the discovery phase of the trial.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English pryvy, prive, from Old French privé (“private”), from Latin prīvātus (“deprived”), perfect passive participle of prīvō (“I bereave, deprive; I free, release”). Doublet of private.

Usage

Used predicatively after linking verbs like 'be' or 'become'; almost always followed by the preposition 'to'.

Pitfall

he was privy of the secrethe was privy to the secretThe adjective 'privy' collocations with the preposition 'to', not 'of'.

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