in grammar, a particle, which, prefixed to a word, changes it into a contrary sense. Thus,

among the Greeks, the ε is used as a privative; as in Privernum, a-bios, atheis, acephalus, &c.—The Latins have their privative in; as, incorrigibilis, indeclinabilis, &c.—The English, French, &c. on occasion borrow both the Latin and Greek privatives.