privative Hear it!

privative definition

priva·tive (priv′ə tiv)

adjective

  1. depriving or tending to deprive
  2. characterized by a taking away or loss of some quality
  3. Gram. indicating negation, absence, or loss

Etymology: L privativus < pp. of privare: see private

noun

Gram. a privative term or affix, as a- (sense ), un-, non-, or -less

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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