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A private path or road; also, the wicket or hatch of a door. [Prov. Eng.]

To withdraw to one side, or to a private place; to lurk. L'Estrange.

. The act or practice by private persons of inflicting punishment for crimes or offenses, without due process of law.

A political organization arranged and controlled by one or more leaders for selfish, private or partisan ends. [Political Cant]

cal organization, but is now widespread among Italians, and is used to further or protect private interests, reputedly by illegal methods.

ng; to injure. [Obs.] The people practice what mischiefs and villainies they will against private men, whom they malign by stealing their goods, or murdering them. Spenser.

er Barometer. -- Marine corps, a corps formed of the officers, noncommissioned officers, privates, and musicants of marines. -- Marine engine (Mech.), a steam engine for propelling a vessel. -- Marine glue. See under Glue. -- Marine insurance, insurance against the perils of the sea, including also risks of fire, p…

ted time and place, for the purpose of traffic (as in cattle, provisions, wares, etc.) by private purchase and sale, and not by auction; as, a market is held in the town every week. He is wit's peddler; and retails his wares At wakes, and wassails, meetings, markets, fairs. Shak. Three women and a goose make a market.…

f marque and reprisal, a license or extraordinary commission granted by a government to a private person to fit out a privateer or armed ship to cruise at sea and make prize of the enemy's ships and merchandise. The ship so commissioned is sometimes called a letter of marque.

One to be attended; specif., a pauper child intrusted to the care of a private person. [Eng.] Dickens.

aws. Bacon. Esteeming it more honorable to live on the public than to be obnoxious to any private purse. Milton. Obnoxious, first or last, To basest things Milton.

lf Be the chief mourner at his obsequies. Dryden. The funeral obsequies were decently and privately performed by his family J. P. Mahaffy.

Free to be used, enjoyed, visited, or the like; not private; public; unrestricted in use; as, an open library, museum, court, or other assembly; liable to the approach, trespass, or attack of any one; unprotected; exposed. If Demetrius . . . have a matter against any man, the law is open and there are deputies. Acts xi…

In an open manner; publicly; not in private; without secrecy. How grossly and openly do many of us contradict the precepts of the gospel by our ungodliness! Tillotson.

, a partially inclosed portion of the auditorium of an opera house for the use of a small private party. -- Opéra comique Etym: [F.], comic or humorous opera. -- Opera flannel, a light flannel, highly finished. Knight. -- Opera girl (Bot.), an East Indian plant (Mantisia saltatoria) of the Ginger family, sometimes s…

To act or produce effect on the mind; to exert moral power or influence. The virtues of private persons operate but on a few. Atterbury. A plain, convincing reason operates on the mind both of a learned and ignorant hearer as long as they live. Swift.

Concealed; private. [R.]

A student of Eton College, England, who is not a King's scholar, and who boards in a private family.

A place of orisons, or prayer; especially, a chapel or small room set apart for private devotions. An oratory [temple] . . . in worship of Dian. Chaucer. Do not omit thy prayers for want of a good oratory, or place to pray in. Jer. Taylor. Fathers of the Oratory (R. C. Ch.), a society of priests founded by St. Philip N…

To banish from society; to put under the ban; to cast out from social, political, or private favor; as, he was ostracized by his former friends. Marvell.