Privative

Privative
Privative Priv"a*tive, a. [L. privativus: cf. F. privatif. See {Private}.] 1. Causing privation; depriving. [1913 Webster]

2. Consisting in the absence of something; not positive; negative. [1913 Webster]

Privative blessings, blessings of immunity, safeguard, liberty, and integrity. --Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster]

3. (Gram.) Implying privation or negation; giving a negative force to a word; as, alpha privative; privative particles; -- applied to such prefixes and suffixes as a- (Gr. ?), un-, non-, -less. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Privative — Priv a*tive, n. [1913 Webster] 1. That of which the essence is the absence of something. [1913 Webster] Blackness and darkness are indeed but privatives. Bacon. [1913 Webster] 2. (Logic) A term indicating the absence of any quality which might be …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • privative — [priv′ə tiv] adj. [L privativus < pp. of privare: see PRIVATE] 1. depriving or tending to deprive 2. characterized by a taking away or loss of some quality 3. Gram. indicating negation, absence, or loss n. Gram. a privative term or affix, as A …   English World dictionary

  • privative — (adj.) 1580s, expressing negation (as the prefixes un , a , etc.), from L. privativus denoting privation, negative, from privatus, pp. of privare (see PRIVATE (Cf. private)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • Privative — A privative, named from Latin [ [http://lysy2.archives.nd.edu/cgi bin/words.exe?privare privare] , at William Whitaker s Words.] , to deprive , is a particle that negates or inverts the value of the stem of the word. In Indo European languages… …   Wikipedia

  • privative — I. adjective Date: 14th century constituting or predicating privation or absence of a quality < non is a privative prefix > • privatively adverb II. noun Date: 1588 a privative term, expression, or proposition; also a privative prefix or suffix …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Privative a — The privative a (also known as privative alpha or α privativum ) is the prefix a which expresses negation or absence (e.g. a theism , ). Originally described for the grammar of Ancient Greek, it goes back to a Proto Indo European syllabic nasal * …   Wikipedia

  • privative — ● privatif, privative adjectif (bas latin privativus) Sur quoi une personne déterminée a un droit exclusif : Jardin privatif. Qui prive de quelque chose : Peine privative de liberté. Qui indique la privation, l absence (par exemple, le a de… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • privative — /ˈprɪvətɪv / (say privuhtiv) adjective 1. having the quality of depriving. 2. consisting in or characterised by the taking away of something, or the loss or lack of something properly present. 3. Grammar indicating negation or absence. –noun 4.… …  

  • privative — privatively, adv. /priv euh tiv/, adj. 1. causing, or tending to cause, deprivation. 2. consisting in or characterized by the taking away, loss, or lack of something. 3. Gram. indicating negation or absence. n. 4. Gram. a privative element, as a… …   Universalium

  • privative a — noun An alpha privative …   Wiktionary

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