alpha privative
The term "alpha privative" refers to a prefix used in Greek and English to express negation or absence, commonly represented by "a-" or "an-".
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Definition
C1Linguistics
(technical, academic)A prefix that indicates the negation, absence, or opposite of a particular concept, often forming antonyms.
Example
- The word 'amoral' uses an alpha privative to mean 'without morals'.
- In 'anarchy', the alpha privative indicates the absence of rule.
C1Grammar
(technical, academic)A prefix, 'a-' or 'an-', used in words of Greek origin to signify 'not' or 'without'.
Example
- The alpha privative in 'asymmetry' denotes the absence of symmetry.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "alpha privative":