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privative

Syllabification: (pri·va·tive)
Pronunciation: /ˈprivətiv/
Definition of privative

adjective

  • (of an action or state) marked by the absence, removal, or loss of some quality or attribute that is normally present.
  • (of a statement or term) denoting the absence or loss of an attribute or quality:the wording of the privative clause
  • Grammar (of a particle or affix) expressing absence or negation, for example, the a- (from the alpha privative in Greek), meaning “not,” in atypical.

noun

  • a privative attribute, quality, or proposition.

Origin:

late 16th century: from Latin privativus 'denoting privation', from privat- 'deprived' (see privation)

privative in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of privative in the British & World English dictionary

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