alpha privative

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Wikipedia

[edit] English

[edit] Noun

alpha privative (plural alpha privatives)

1. (grammar) The prefix a- (or an- when prefixing a root which begins with a vowel) found in some English words of Greek derivation. It expresses negation or absence. The prefix has cognates in other Indo-European languages, including in- in Latin and un- in English.

[edit] See also

• α-
• a-