Part 645

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.

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.

Pub"li*can (?), n. [L. publicanus: cf. F. publicain. See Public.] 1. (Rom. Antiq.) A farmer of the taxes and public revenues; hence, a collector of toll or tribute. The inferior officers of this class were often oppressive in their exactions, and were regarded with great detestation.

As Jesus at meat . . . many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

Matt. 1x. 10.

How like a fawning publican he looks!

Shak.

2. The keeper of an inn or public house; one licensed to retail beer, spirits, or wine.

Pub`li*ca"tion (?), n. [L. publicatio confiscation: cf. F. publication. See Publish.] 1. The act of publishing or making known; notification to the people at large, either by words, writing, or printing; proclamation; divulgation; promulgation; as, the publication of the law at Mount Sinai; the publication of the gospel; the publication of statutes or edicts.

2. The act of offering a book, pamphlet, engraving, etc., to the public by sale or by gratuitous distribution.

The publication of these papers was not owing to our folly, but that of others.

Swift.

3. That which is published or made known; especially, any book, pamphlet, etc., offered for sale or to public notice; as, a daily or monthly publication.

4. An act done in public. [R. & Obs.]

His jealousy . . . attends the business, the recreations, the publications, and retirements of every man.

Jer. Taylor.

Publication of a libel (Law), such an exhibition of a libel as brings it to the notice of at least one person other than the person libeled. -- Publication of a will (Law), the delivery of a will, as his own, by a testator to witnesses who attest it.

Pub"lic-heart`ed (?), a. Public- spirited. [R.]