private

Where does the word "private" come from? It comes from Latin privatus, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Private’s story begins in Latin: privatus meant “set apart, not public.” From 'privare', to deprive, the root of 'privilege'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as privé. A 'privy' was a private place, the root of the word for a toilet. It reached English by 1300s as private. Army 'privates' date from the 1500s. Today, private means belonging to one person; not public.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient privatus "set apart, not public", from 'privare', to deprive, the root of 'privilege'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval privé "private", a 'privy' was a private place, the root of the word for a toilet.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s private "personal", army 'privates' date from the 1500s.