alpha privative

English

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɪvətɪv

Noun

alpha privative (plural alpha privatives)

1. (grammar) The prefix a- (or an- when prefixing a root which begins with a vowel) found in some English words of Greek derivation. It expresses negation or absence. The prefix has cognates in other Indo-European languages, including in- in Latin and un- in English, all traceable back to Proto-Indo-European *n̥-.

   Synonyms: alpha privativum; privative a

2. (grammar) Either the aforementioned privative a or the Greek ἀ- (a-) itself (from which the English descendant derives).

   Synonym: alpha privativum

   Hyponym: privative a

3. (grammar) A word formed using such prefixes.

Related terms

• deprivation
• privation
• privative adjective

 

Translations

the prefix a- expressing negation or absence

• Dutch: privatieve a f, alpha privativum n
• German: Alpha privativum (de) n
• Greek: άλφα στερητικό n (álfa steritikó)

  Ancient: ἄλφα στερητικόν n (álpha sterētikón)

• Italian: alfa privativo m
• Latin: alpha prīvātīvum n
• Portuguese: alfa privativo m

a word formed using such prefixes

See also

• ἀ- (a-)
• a-