Pub"lic (?), 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 ∨ 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.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.