394: privation versus deprivation Jan 6, 2016

Prefixes are added to words generally changing the meaning slightly, but not making it into an entirely new word. 'Privation' comes ultimately from the Latin from 'privat-' meaning ‘deprived’ from the verb, 'privare' which is related to the English word, 'private'. Although both words have a similar meaning, as in something separated, 'deprivation' is its own word, and not just the addition of a prefix. It comes from late Middle English when it meant ‘removal from office’ which derives from the verb 'deprivare' which is related to the word 'deprive'.