Privative

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. That of which the essence is the absence of something. Blackness and darkness are indeed but privatives. Bacon.

2. A term indicating the absence of any quality which might be naturally or rationally expected; -- called also privative term.

3. A privative prefix or suffix. See Privative, a., 3.

Part of speech: adjective (a.)

1. Causing privation; depriving.

2. Consisting in the absence of something; not positive; negative. Privative blessings, blessings of immunity, safeguard, liberty, and integrity. Jer. Taylor.

3. 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.