GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 2 definitions

1.       
   Public , a. [L. publicus, poblicus, fr. populus people: cf. F. public. See People.]
    Of or pertaining to the people; belonging to the people; relating to, or affecting, a nation, state, or community; -- opposed to private; as, the public treasury.
   1913 Webster
   To the public good
   Private respects must yield.
   Milton.
   
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   He [Alexander Hamilton] touched the dead corpse of the public credit, and it sprung upon its feet.
   D. Webster.
   
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   Open to the knowledge or view of all; general; common; notorious; as, public report; public scandal.
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   Joseph, . . . not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
   Matt. i. 19.
   
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   Open to common or general use; as, a public road; a public house. “The public street.” 
   Shak.
   
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   public act or public statute (Law), an act or statute affecting matters of public concern. Of such statutes the courts take judicial notice. -- Public credit. See under Credit. -- Public funds. See Fund, 3. -- Public house, an inn, or house of entertainment. -- Public law. (a) See International law, under International. (b) A public act or statute. -- Public nuisance. (Law) See under Nuisance. -- Public orator. (Eng. Universities) See Orator, 3. -- Public stores, military and naval stores, equipments, etc. -- Public works, all fixed works built by civil engineers for public use, as railways, docks, canals, etc.; but strictly, military and civil engineering works constructed at the public cost.
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2.       
   Public, n.
   The general body of mankind, or of a nation, state, or community; the people, indefinitely; as, the American public; also, a particular body or aggregation of people; as, an author's public.
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   The public is more disposed to censure than to praise.
   Addison.
   
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   A public house; an inn. [Scot.]
   Sir W. Scott.
   
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   In public, openly; before an audience or the people at large; not in private or secrecy. “We are to speak in public.” 
   Shak.
   
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