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.

Translations

the prefix a- expressing negation or absence

See also

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