privative
[ priv-uh-tiv ]
/ ˈprɪv ə tɪv /
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adjective
causing, or tending to cause, deprivation.
consisting in or characterized by the taking away, loss, or lack of something.
Grammar. indicating negation or absence.
noun
Grammar. a privative element, as a- in asymmetric.
something that is deprived.
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“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.
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OTHER WORDS FROM privative
priv·a·tive·ly, adverbWords nearby privative
private trust, private view, private viewdata, privation, privatism, privative, privatization issue, privatize, privet, privet hawk, privilege
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for privative
British Dictionary definitions for privative
privative
/ (ˈprɪvətɪv) /
adjective
causing privation
expressing lack or negation, as for example the English suffix -less and prefix un-
logic obsolete (of a proposition) that predicates a logical privation
Derived forms of privative
privatively, adverbWord Origin for privative
C16: from Latin prīvātīvus indicating loss, negative
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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