Privacy

The power to deny information about yourself to another person. A form of secrecy dealing exclusively with personal knowledge, i.e., one's thoughts or feelings. Often, people behave differently when they are in private because they have some datum which they wish to conceal from the general public. There is also a physical aspect; people are many times more comfortable being naked in private, because they feel vulnerable and self-conscious about their bodies. This, however, could be said to stem from the need to hide one's insecurities from the scrutiny of others.

Pri"va*cy (?), n.; pl. Privacies (#). [See Private.]

1.

The state of being in retirement from the company or observation of others; seclusion.

2.

A place of seclusion from company or observation; retreat; solitude; retirement.

Her sacred privacies all open lie. Rowe.

3.

Concealment of what is said or done.

Shak.

4.

A private matter; a secret.

Fuller.

5.

See Privity, 2.

Arbuthnot.

© Webster 1913.