Publications
public (?), 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.
public , n. 1. Thegeneral 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 authors
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.
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