- Public
- Public Pub"lic, a. [L. publicus, poblicus, fr. populus people:
cf. F. public. See {People}.]
1. 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. [1913 Webster]
He [Alexander Hamilton] touched the dead corpse of the public credit, and it sprung upon its feet. --D. Webster. [1913 Webster]
2. Open to the knowledge or view of all; general; common; notorious; as, public report; public scandal. [1913 Webster]
Joseph, . . . not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. --Matt. i. 19. [1913 Webster]
3. Open to common or general use; as, a public road; a public house. ``The public street.'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]
{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. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
