Privation Meaning
/pɹɪˈveɪʃən/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe state of being deprived of or lacking an attribute formerly or properly possessed; the loss or absence of such an attribute.
nounThe state of being very poor, and lacking the basic necessities of life.
Sentence Examples
The soldiers suffered great privation during the long winter.
They lived a life of extreme privation in the remote village.
Many families suffered extreme privation during the long winter months.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
During the famine, many people suffered from extreme ____, lacking food and water.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The soldiers endured months of ____ in the field, surviving on minimal rations and little sleep.
Word Origin & History
Inherited from Middle English privacioun, from Middle French privation, privacion, from Old French privacion, from Latin prīvātiō; compare French privation. See private.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"His [the Native American's] nature is stern, simple and enduring; fitted to grapple with difficulties, and to support privations."
— 1820 July, Geoffrey Crayon [pseudonym; Washington Irving], “Traits of Indian Character”, in The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., 1st UK edition, volume II, London: John Murray, […], →OCLC, page 213:
"For Yen Hsüeh-mei, the Shanghai-bred nurse, life in northern Hupei must have represented a striking change. Lao-ho-k'ou was the headquarters of General Li Tsung-jen, commander of the Fifth War Area.[…]If the General lived in such humble quarters, it is safe to say that the quarters to which Chiang Kuei brought his wife were plainer yet. But physical privation was nearly universal and in many ways Lao-ho-k'ou was an interesting place to be."
— 1974, Timothy A. Ross, Chiang Kuei, New York: Twayne Publishers, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 59:
"Mr. McCarthy wrote for many years in relative obscurity and privation."
— 2023 June 13, Dwight Garner, “Cormac McCarthy, Novelist of a Darker America, Is Dead at 89”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
"Refinement and amusement, like knowledge, are so diffused now-a-days, that an exile from the royal circle would be a nominal punishment; but it then included every species of privation. The theatre—at that era such a resource—balls, fêtes, &c., to say nothing of worldly influence, were all forfeited by a banishment from court, the centre of all the pleasures, variety, and ambition of society."
— 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XXV, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume I, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 299:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
During the famine, many people suffered from extreme ____, lacking food and water.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The soldiers endured months of ____ in the field, surviving on minimal rations and little sleep.