Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Negative
1.
Denying; implying, containing, or asserting denial, negation or refusal; returning the answer no to an inquiry or request; refusing assent;
as, a
; – opposed to negative
answer; a negative
opinionaffirmative
. If thou wilt confess,
Or else be impudently
Or else be impudently
negative
. Shakespeare
Denying me any power of a
negative
voice. Eikon Basilike.
Something between an affirmative bow and a
negative
shake. Dickens.
2.
Not positive; without affirmative statement or demonstration; indirect; consisting in the absence of something; privative;
as, a
negative
argument; negative
evidence; a negative
morality; negative
criticism.There in another way of denying Christ, . . . which is
negative
, when we do not acknowledge and confess him. South.
3.
(Logic)
Asserting absence of connection between a subject and a predicate;
as, a
. negative
proposition4.
(Photog.)
Of or pertaining to a picture upon glass or other material, in which the lights and shades of the original, and the relations of right and left, are reversed.
5.
(Chem.)
Metalloidal; nonmetallic; – contrasted with
positive
or basic
; as, the nitro group is
. negative
☞ This word, derived from electro-negative, is now commonly used in a more general sense, when acidiferous is the intended signification.
Negative crystal
. (a)
A cavity in a mineral mass, having the form of a crystal.
(b)
A crystal which has the power of negative double refraction. See
– refraction
. negative electricity
(Elec.)
, the kind of electricity which is developed upon resin or ebonite when rubbed, or which appears at that pole of a voltaic battery which is connected with the plate most attacked by the exciting liquid; – formerly called
– resinous electricity
. Opposed to positive electricity
. Formerly, according to Franklin’s theory of a single electric fluid, negative electricity was supposed to be electricity in a degree below saturation, or the natural amount for a given body. See Electricity
. Negative eyepiece
. (Opt.)
see under
– Eyepiece
. Negative quantity
(Alg.)
, a quantity preceded by the negative sign, or which stands in the relation indicated by this sign to some other quantity. See
– Negative sign
(below). Negative rotation
, right-handed rotation. See
– Right-handed
, 3. Negative sign
, the sign -, or
minus
(opposed in signification to +, or plus
), indicating that the quantity to which it is prefixed is to be subtracted from the preceding quantity, or is to be reckoned from zero or cipher in the opposite direction to that of quanties having the sign plus either expressed or understood; thus, in a - b
, b is to be substracted from a, or regarded as opposite to it in value; and -10° on a thermometer means 10° below the zero of the scale.Neg′a-tive
(nĕg′ȧ-tĭv)
, Noun.
[Cf. F.
négative
.] 1.
A proposition by which something is denied or forbidden; a conception or term formed by prefixing the negative particle to one which is positive; an opposite or contradictory term or conception.
This is a known rule in divinity, that there is no command that runs in
negatives
but couches under it a positive duty. South.
2.
A word used in denial or refusal;
as,
. not
, no
☞ In Old England two or more negatives were often joined together for the sake of emphasis, whereas now such expressions are considered ungrammatical, being chiefly heard in iliterate speech. A double negative is now sometimes used as nearly or quite equivalent to an affirmative.
No
wine ne
drank she, neither white nor red. Chaucer.
These eyes that never did
So much as frown on you.
nor never
shallSo much as frown on you.
Shakespeare
3.
The refusal or withholding of assents; veto.
If a kind without his kingdom be, in a civil sense, nothing, then . . . his
negative
is as good as nothing. Milton.
4.
That side of a question which denies or refuses, or which is taken by an opposing or denying party; the relation or position of denial or opposition;
as, the question was decided in the
. negative
5.
(Photog.)
A picture upon glass or other material, in which the light portions of the original are represented in some opaque material (usually reduced silver), and the dark portions by the uncovered and transparent or semitransparent ground of the picture.
☞ A negative is chiefly used for producing photographs by means of passing light through it and acting upon sensitized paper, thus producing on the paper a positive picture.
6.
(Elect.)
The negative plate of a voltaic or electrolytic cell.
Negative pregnant
(Law)
, a negation which implies an affirmation.
Neg′a-tive
(nĕg′ȧ-tĭv)
, Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Negatived
(nĕg′ȧ-tĭvd)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Negativing
.] 1.
To prove unreal or untrue; to disprove.
The omission or infrequency of such recitals does not
negative
the existence of miracles. Paley.
2.
To reject by vote; to refuse to enact or sanction;
as, the Senate
. negatived
the bill3.
To neutralize the force of; to counteract.
Webster 1828 Edition
Negative
NEGATIVE
,Adj.
1.
Implying denial or negation; opposed to affirmative, as a negative proposition is that which denies. Matter is not spirit.2.
Implying absence; opposed to positive.There is a negative way of denying Christ, when we do not acknowledge and confess him.
3.
Having the power of stopping or restraining. A negative voice in legislation is a voice or vote to prevent the passing of a law or decree.Negative sign, in algebra, the sign of subtraction , a sign which indicates that the quantity to which it is prefixed is to be subtracted. It is opposed to positive ro affirmative; as ab-n.
Negative electricity, according to Dr. Franklin, is a deficiency of the fluid in a substance, or less than the substance naturally contains.
NEGATIVE
,Noun.
1.
A proposition by which something is denied; as, matter has not the power of moving itself.2.
A word that denies; as not, no.