Privative Definition

prĭvə-tĭv
adjective
Depriving or tending to deprive.
Webster's New World
Characterized by a taking away or loss of some quality.
Webster's New World
Altering the meaning of a term from positive to negative.
American Heritage
Indicating negation, absence, or loss.
Webster's New World
noun

A privative term or affix, as a-, un-, non-, or -less.

Webster's New World
Something that causes privation or indicates an absence.
Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Privative

Noun

Singular:
privative
Plural:
privatives

Origin of Privative

  • Middle English privatif from Latin prīvātīvus from prīvātus past participle of prīvāre to deprive private

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Latin privativus

    From Wiktionary

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