[priv-uh-tiv] 
| 1. | causing, or tending to cause, deprivation. |
| 2. | consisting in or characterized by the taking away, loss, or lack of something. |
| 3. | Grammar. indicating negation or absence. |
| 4. | Grammar. a privative element, as a- in asymmetric. |
| 5. | something that is deprived. |
| priv·a·tive (prĭv'ə-tĭv) adj.
A privative prefix or suffix, such as a-, non-, un-, or -less. [Middle English privatif, from Latin prīvātīvus, from prīvātus, past participle of prīvāre, to deprive; see private.] priv'a·tive·ly adv. |
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