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public |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Public \Pub"lic\, n. 1. 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. The public is more disposed to censure than to praise. --Addison. 2. A public house; an inn. [Scot.] --Sir W. Scott. {In public}, openly; before an audience or the people at large not in private or secrecy. ``We are to speak in public.'' --Shak. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: 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. To the public good Private respects must yield. --Milton. He [Alexander Hamilton] touched the dead corpse of the public credit, and it sprung upon its feet. --D. Webster. 2. Open to the knowledge or view of all general; common; notorious; as public report; public scandal. Joseph, . . . not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. --Matt. i. 19. 3. Open to common or general use as a public road; a public house. ``The public street.'' --Shak. {Public act} or {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. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: public adj 1: not private; open to or concerning the people as a whole; "the public good"; "public libraries"; "public funds"; "public parks"; "a public scandal"; "public gardens"; "performers and members of royal families are public figures" [ant: {private}] 2: affecting the people or community as a whole; "community leaders"; "community interests"; "the public welfare" [syn: {community(a)}] n 1: people in general considered as a whole; "he is a hero in the eyes of the public" [syn: {populace}, {world}] 2: a body of people sharing some common interest; "the reading public"
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