Found 1 items, similar to Privy seal.
English → English
Definition: Privy seal
, n. [OE. seel, OF. seel, F. sceau, fr. L. sigillum a
little figure or image, a seal, dim. of signum a mark, sign,
figure, or image. See Sign
, n., and cf. Sigil
1. An engraved or inscribed stamp, used for marking an
impression in wax or other soft substance, to be attached
to a document, or otherwise used by way of authentication
2. Wax, wafer, or other tenacious substance, set to an
instrument, and impressed or stamped with a seal; as, to
give a deed under hand and seal.
Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond
Thou but offend'st thy lungs to speak so loud.
3. That which seals or fastens; esp., the wax or wafer placed
on a letter or other closed paper, etc., to fasten it.
4. That which confirms, ratifies, or makes stable; that which
authenticates; that which secures; assurance. “Under the
seal of silence.”
Like a red seal is the setting sun
On the good and the evil men have done.
5. An arrangement for preventing the entrance or return of
gas or air into a pipe, by which the open end of the pipe
dips beneath the surface of water or other liquid, or a
deep bend or sag in the pipe is filled with the liquid; a
. See under Great
. See under Privy
, a lock in which the keyhole is covered by a seal
in such a way that the lock can not be opened without
rupturing the seal.
. See under Manual
, a ring having a seal engraved on it, or
ornamented with a device resembling a seal; a signet ring.
, a. [F. priv['e], fr. L. privatus. See
1. Of or pertaining to some person exclusively; assigned to
private uses; not public; private; as, the privy purse. “
Privee knights and squires.”
2. Secret; clandestine. “ A privee thief.”
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.
, a private apartment in a royal residence.
(Eng. Law), the principal council of the
sovereign, composed of the cabinet ministers and other
persons chosen by the king or queen. --Burrill.
, a member of the privy council.
, moneys set apart for the personal use of the
monarch; also, the title of the person having charge of
these moneys. [Eng.] --Macaulay.
or Privy signet
, the seal which the king uses
in grants, etc., which are to pass the great seal, or
which he 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.]
, a verdict given privily to the judge out of
court; -- now disused. --Burrill.