1. privative - Noun
2. privative - Adjective
Causing privation; depriving.
Consisting in the absence of something; not positive; negative.
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.
That of which the essence is the absence of something.
A term indicating the absence of any quality which might be naturally or rationally expected; -- called also privative term.
A privative prefix or suffix. See Privative, a., 3.
Source: Webster's dictionaryA system fulfilling this condition and free from spherical aberration is called aplanatic (Greek a-, privative, plann, a wandering). Source: Internet
It is related to the Greek word for "truth", aletheia (ἀλήθεια), which through the privative alpha literally means "un-forgetfulness" or "un-concealment". Source: Internet