Etymograph

English

privative

Privative comes from Latin privativus.

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEprivativus1
  2. Englishearliest quotation 1651privative1

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor

  1. 1 Wiktionary, English privative
  2. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 1651, Jeremy Taylor, The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living. […]: “Privative blessings, blessings of immunity, safeguard, liberty, and integrity.”.

Lineage

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEprivativusWiktionary, English privative
  2. Englishearliest quotation 1651privativeWiktionary, English privative. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 1651, Jeremy Taylor, The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living. […]: “Privative blessings, blessings of immunity, safeguard, liberty, and integrity.”

Every English word from Latin privativus

Today it means

adj Causing privation; depriving.

Sources

Sources: Wiktionary, “privative”. By Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org (dump of Oct 3 2026); text adapted and restructured. Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word. License.

Etymograph / Latin privativus / privative

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