privately
UK: ˈpraɪvətli | US: ˈpraɪvətli
adv. in a private manner; not publicly or openly
adv. personally; confidentially
adv. without the involvement or knowledge of others
The word "privately" derives from the root "private," which originates from the Latin privatus (meaning "set apart, belonging to oneself"), combined with the adverbial suffix "-ly" (from Old English -lice, used to form adverbs). The term evolved through Middle English (privat) to signify something not public or shared, and the suffix "-ly" was added to create the adverbial form, emphasizing the manner of action.
She spoke privately to her lawyer before the meeting.
The documents were shared privately among the team members.
He prefers to handle such matters privately rather than in public.
The celebrity married privately to avoid media attention.
The manager discussed the issue privately with the employee.