Dictionary
priv•a•tive
Pronunciation: (priv'u-tiv), [key]—
adj.
1. causing, or tending to cause, deprivation.
2. consisting in or characterized by the taking away, loss, or lack of something.
3. Gram.indicating negation or absence.
—
n.
1. Gram.a privative element, as
a- in
asymmetric.
2. something that is deprived.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.