n. 1. a. Lack of the basic necessities or comforts of life: living in times of privation. b. An act, condition, or result of deprivation or loss: endured the privations of war. 2. The condition of being without a specified quality or attribute: the privation of liberty. [Middle English privacion, from Old French privation, from Latin prīvātiō, prīvātiōn-, from prīvātus, past participle of prīvāre, to deprive; see PRIVATE.] |
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