Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Private \Pri"vate\ (?; 48), a. [L. privatus apart from the
   state, peculiar to an individual, private, properly p. p. of
   privare to bereave, deprive, originally, to separate, fr.
   privus single, private, perhaps originally, put forward
   (hence, alone, single) and akin to prae before. See {Prior},
   a., and cf. {Deprive}, {Privy}, a.]
   1. Belonging to, or concerning, an individual person,
      company, or interest; peculiar to one's self; unconnected
      with others; personal; one's own; not public; not general;
      separate; as, a man's private opinion; private property; a
      private purse; private expenses or interests; a private
      secretary.

   2. Sequestered from company or observation; appropriated to
      an individual; secret; secluded; lonely; solitary; as, a
      private room or apartment; private prayer.

            Reason . . . then retires Into her private cell when
            nature rests.                         --Milton.

Private \Pri"vate\, n.
   1. A secret message; a personal unofficial communication.
      [Obs.] --Shak.

   2. Personal interest; particular business.[Obs.]

            Nor must I be unmindful of my private. --B. Jonson.

   3. Privacy; retirement. [Archaic] ``Go off; I discard you;
      let me enjoy my private.'' --Shak.

   4. One not invested with a public office. [Archaic]

            What have kings, that privates have not too? --Shak.

   5. (Mil.) A common soldier; a soldier below the grade of a
      noncommissioned officer. --Macaulay.

   6. pl. The private parts; the genitals.

   {In private}, secretly; not openly or publicly.

Source : WordNet®

private
     n : an enlisted man of the lowest rank; "our prisoner was just a
         private and knew nothing of value" [syn: {buck private},
         {common soldier}]

private
     adj 1: confined to particular persons or groups or providing
            privacy; "a private place"; "private discussions";
            "private lessons"; "a private club"; "a private
            secretary"; "private property"; "the former President
            is now a private citizen"; "public figures struggle to
            maintain a private life" [ant: {public}]
     2: concerning things deeply private and personal; "private
        correspondence"; "private family matters"
     3: concerning one person exclusively; "we all have individual
        cars"; "each room has a private bath" [syn: {individual(a)}]
     4: not expressed; "secret (or private) thoughts" [syn: {secret}]