The DICT Development Group

  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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The public is more disposed to censure than to
              praise.                               --Addison.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A public house; an inn. [Scot.] --Sir W. Scott.
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     In public, openly; before an audience or the people at
        large; not in private or secrecy. "We are to speak in
        public." --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]

  in public
      adv 1: in a manner accessible to or observable by the public;
             openly; "she admitted publicly to being a communist"
             [syn: publicly, publically, in public] [ant: in
             camera, in private, privately]