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privy council definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: an advisory council to a ruler (especially to the British Crown)

Merriam Webster's

noun Date: 14th century 1. archaic a secret or private council 2. capitalized P&C a body of officials and dignitaries chosen by the British monarch as an advisory council to the Crown usually functioning through its committees 3. a usually appointive advisory council to an executive • privy councillor noun

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Privy Priv"y, a. [F. priv['e], fr. L. privatus. See Private.] 1. Of or pertaining to some person exclusively; assigned to private uses; not public; private; as, the privy purse. `` Privee knights and squires.'' --Chaucer. 2. Secret; clandestine. `` A privee thief.'' --Chaucer. 3. Appropriated to retirement; private; not open to the public. `` Privy chambers.'' --Ezek. xxi. 14. 4. Admitted to knowledge of a secret transaction; secretly cognizant; privately knowing. His wife also being privy to it. --Acts v. 2. Myself am one made privy to the plot. --Shak. Privy chamber, a private apartment in a royal residence. [Eng.] Privy council (Eng. Law), the principal council of the sovereign, composed of the cabinet ministers and other persons chosen by the king or queen. --Burrill. Privy councilor, a member of the privy council. Privy purse, moneys set apart for the personal use of the monarch; also, the title of the person having charge of these moneys. [Eng.] --Macaulay. Privy seal or signed, the seal which the king uses in grants, etc., which are to pass the great seal, or which the uses in matters of subordinate consequence which do not require the great seal; also, elliptically, the principal secretary of state, or person intrusted with the privy seal. [Eng.] Privy verdict, a verdict given privily to the judge out of court; -- now disused. --Burrill.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Council Coun"cil (koun"s[i^]l), n. [F. concile, fr. L. concilium; con- + calare to call, akin to Gr. ??? to call, and E. hale, v., haul. Cf. Conciliate. This word is often confounded with counsel, with which it has no connection.] 1. An assembly of men summoned or convened for consultation, deliberation, or advice; as, a council of physicians for consultation in a critical case. 2. A body of man elected or appointed to constitute an advisory or a legislative assembly; as, a governor's council; a city council. An old lord of the council rated me the other day. --Shak. 3. Act of deliberating; deliberation; consultation. Satan . . . void of rest, His potentates to council called by night. --Milton. O great in action and in council wise. --Pope. Aulic council. See under Aulic. Cabinet council. See under Cabinet. City council, the legislative branch of a city government, usually consisting of a board of aldermen and common council, but sometimes otherwise constituted. Common council. See under Common. Council board, Council table, the table round which a council holds consultation; also, the council itself in deliberation. Council chamber, the room or apartment in which a council meets. Council fire, the ceremonial fire kept burning while the Indians hold their councils. [U.S.] --Bartlett. Council of war, an assembly of officers of high rank, called to consult with the commander in chief in regard to measures or importance or nesessity. Ecumenical council (Eccl.), an assembly of prelates or divines convened from the whole body of the church to regulate matters of doctrine or discipline. Executive council, a body of men elected as advisers of the chief magistrate, whether of a State or the nation. [U.S.] Legislative council, the upper house of a legislature, usually called the senate. Privy council. See under Privy. [Eng.] Syn: Assembly; meeting; congress; diet; parliament; convention; convocation; synod.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

In Britain, the Privy Council is a group of people who are appointed to advise the king or queen on political affairs. N-PROPER: the N

Moby Thesaurus

British Cabinet, Sanhedrin, US Cabinet, advisory body, advisory council, assembly, association, bench, board, body of advisers, borough council, brain trust, cabinet, camarilla, chamber, city council, common council, conference, congress, consultative assembly, council, council fire, council of ministers, council of state, council of war, county council, court, deliberative assembly, diet, directory, divan, junta, kitchen cabinet, legislature, ministry, parish council, shadow cabinet, soviet, staff, syndicate, synod, tribunal