'Privative' definitions:

Definition of 'Privative'

From: GCIDE
  • 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]

Definition of 'Privative'

From: GCIDE
  • 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 naturally or rationally expected; -- called also privative term. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. (Gram.) A privative prefix or suffix. See Privative, a., 3. [1913 Webster]