Privacy, n.; pl. Privacies.
Etymology: [See Private.]
1. The state of being in retirement from the company or observation of others; seclusion.
2. A place of seclusion from company or observation; retreat; solitude; retirement. Her sacred privacies all open lie. Rowe.
3. Concealment of what is said or done. Shak.
4. A private matter; a secret. Fuller.
1 more senses
5. See Privity, 2. [Obs.] Arbuthnot.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for privacy; he lists it under retirement.
Where he writes about it:
As "private" denotes what concerns ourselves individually, privacy denotes freedom from the presence or observation of those not concerned or whom we desire not to have concerned in our affairs; privacy is more commonly temporary than seclusion; we speak of a moment's privacy. — from retirement