Category:Public

Pub"lic, a. Etym: [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 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.