2. Consisting in the absence of something; not positive; negative. Privative blessings, blessings of immunity, safeguard, liberty, and integrity. Jer. Taylor.
3. (Gram.)
Defn: 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.
PRIVATIVE
Priv"a*tive, n.
1. That of which the essence is the absence of something. Blackness and darkness are indeed but privatives. Bacon.
2. (Logic)
Defn: A term indicating the absence of any quality which might be naturally or rationally expected; — called also privative term.
3. (Gram.)
Defn: A privative prefix or suffix. See Privative, a., 3.
PRIVATIVELY
Priv"a*tive*ly, adv.