| source : web1913 | Privation \Pri*va"tion\, n. [L. privatio: cf. F. privation. See {Private}.] 1. The act of depriving, or taking away; hence, the depriving of rank or office; degradation in rank; deprivation. --Bacon. 2. The state of being deprived or destitute of something, especially of something required or desired; destitution; need; as, to undergo severe privations. 3. The condition of being absent; absence; negation. Evil will be known by consequence, as being only a privation, or absence, of good. --South. Privation mere of light and absent day. --Milton. | source : wn | privation n 1: a state of extreme poverty [syn: {want}, {deprivation}] 2: act of depriving [syn: {deprivation}]