in Grammar, a particle, which, prefixed to a word, changes it into a contrary sense. Thus, among the Greeks, the α is used as a privative; as in α-τες, αληγή, ακεφαλος, &c.—The Latins have their privative in ; as, incorrigibilis, indeclinabilis, &c.—The English, French, &c. on occasion borrow both the Latin and Greek privatives.