The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Privative \Priv"a*tive\, n.
[1913 Webster]
1. That of which the essence is the absence of something.
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Blackness and darkness are indeed but privatives.
--Bacon.
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2. (Logic) A term indicating the absence of any quality which
might be naturally or rationally expected; -- called also
privative term.
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3. (Gram.) A privative prefix or suffix. See Privative, a.,
3.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Privative \Priv"a*tive\, a. [L. privativus: cf. F. privatif. See
Private.]
1. Causing privation; depriving.
[1913 Webster]
2. Consisting in the absence of something; not positive;
negative.
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Privative blessings, blessings of immunity,
safeguard, liberty, and integrity. --Jer. Taylor.
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3. (Gram.) 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.
[1913 Webster]