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Other

privative

Pronunciation: /ˈprɪvətɪv/
Definition of privative

adjective

  • (of an action or state) marked by the absence 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:parliament may insert a privative clause to achieve this result
  • Grammar (of a particle or affix) expressing absence or negation, for example the Greek a-, meaning ‘not’, in atypical.

Origin:

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

privative in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of privative in the US English dictionary