expressing or containing negation or denial: a negative response to the question.
2.
refusing consent, as to a proposal: a negative reply to my request.
3.
expressing refusal to do something: He maintained a negative attitude about cooperating.
4.
prohibitory, as a command or order.
5.
characterized by the absence of distinguishing or marked qualities or features; lacking positive attributes (opposed to positive): a dull, lifeless, negative character.
6.
lacking in constructiveness, helpfulness, optimism, cooperativeness, or the like: a man of negative viewpoint.
7.
being without rewards, results, or effectiveness: a search of the premises proved negative.
8.
Mathematics,Physics.
a.
involving or noting subtraction; minus.
b.
measured or proceeding in the direction opposite to that which is considered as positive.
9.
Photography. noting an image in which the brightness values of the subject are reproduced so that the lightest areas are shown as the darkest.
10.
Electricity.
a.
of, pertaining to, or characterized by negative electricity.
b.
indicating a point in a circuit that has a lower potential than that of another point, the current flowing from the point of higher potential to the point of lower potential.
11.
Medicine/Medical. failing to show a positive result in a test for a specific disease caused by either bacteria or viruses.
12.
Chemistry. (of an element or group) tending to gain electrons and become negatively charged; acid.
13.
Physiology. responding in a direction away from the stimulus.
14.
of, pertaining to, or noting the south pole of a magnet.
15.
Logic. (of a proposition) denying the truth of the predicate with regard to the subject.
–noun
16.
a negative statement, answer, word, gesture, etc.: The ship signaled back a negative.
17.
a refusal of assent: to answer a request with a negative.
18.
the negative form of statement.
19.
a person or number of persons arguing against a resolution, statement, etc., esp. a team upholding the negative side in a formal debate.
20.
a negative quality or characteristic.
21.
disadvantage; drawback: The plan is generally brilliant, but it has one or two negatives.
22.
Mathematics.
a.
a minus sign.
b.
a negative quantity or symbol.
23.
Photography. a negative image, as on a film, used chiefly for making positives.
24.
Electricity. the negative plate or element in a voltaic cell.
25.
Archaic. a veto, or right of veto: The delegation may exercise its negative.
–adverb
26.
(used to indicate a negative response): “You won't come with us?” “Negative.”
–verb (used with object)
27.
to deny; contradict.
28.
to refute or disprove (something).
29.
to refuse assent or consent to; veto.
30.
to neutralize or counteract.
–interjection
31.
(used to indicate disagreement, denial of permission, etc.): Negative, pilot—complete your mission as directed.
—Idiom
32.
in the negative, in the form of a negative response, as a refusal, denial, or disagreement; no: The reply, when it finally came, was in the negative.
[Origin: 1350–1400; < L negātīvus denying (see negate, -ive); r. ME negatif (n. and adj.) < MF < L as above]
Expressing, containing, or consisting of a negation, refusal, or denial: gave a negative answer to our request.
Indicating opposition or resistance: a negative reaction to the new advertising campaign.
Unpleasant; disagreeable: had a negative experience on his first job.
Gloomy; pessimistic: a negative outlook.
Unfavorable or detrimental: a negative review; a negative effect on the child's development.
Hostile or disparaging; malicious: ran a negative campaign against her opponent.
Of or relating to a quantity less than zero.
Of or relating to the sign (-).
Of or relating to a quantity to be subtracted from another.
Of or relating to a quantity, number, angle, velocity, or direction in a sense opposite to another of the same magnitude indicated or understood to be positive.
Of or relating to an electric charge of the same sign as that of an electron, indicated by the symbol (-).
Of or relating to a body having an excess of electrons.
Lacking positive or constructive features, especially:
Unpleasant; disagreeable: had a negative experience on his first job.
Gloomy; pessimistic: a negative outlook.
Unfavorable or detrimental: a negative review; a negative effect on the child's development.
Hostile or disparaging; malicious: ran a negative campaign against her opponent.
Of or relating to a quantity less than zero.
Of or relating to the sign (-).
Of or relating to a quantity to be subtracted from another.
Of or relating to a quantity, number, angle, velocity, or direction in a sense opposite to another of the same magnitude indicated or understood to be positive.
Of or relating to an electric charge of the same sign as that of an electron, indicated by the symbol (-).
Of or relating to a body having an excess of electrons.
Medicine Not indicating the presence of a particular disease, condition, or organism.
Logic Designating a proposition that denies agreement between a subject and its predicate.
Mathematics
Of or relating to a quantity less than zero.
Of or relating to the sign (-).
Of or relating to a quantity to be subtracted from another.
Of or relating to a quantity, number, angle, velocity, or direction in a sense opposite to another of the same magnitude indicated or understood to be positive.
Of or relating to an electric charge of the same sign as that of an electron, indicated by the symbol (-).
Of or relating to a body having an excess of electrons.
Physics
Of or relating to an electric charge of the same sign as that of an electron, indicated by the symbol (-).
Of or relating to a body having an excess of electrons.
Chemistry Of or relating to an ion, the anion, that is attracted to a positive electrode.
Biology Moving or turning away from a stimulus, such as light: a negative tropism.
n.
A statement or act indicating or expressing a contradiction, denial, or refusal.
A statement or act that is highly critical of another or of others: campaign advertising that was based solely on negatives.
Something that lacks all positive, affirmative, or encouraging features; an element that is the counterpoint of the positive: "Life is full of overwhelming odds. You can't really eliminate the negatives but you can diminish them"(Art Linkletter).
A feature or characteristic that is not deemed positive, affirmative, or desirable: "As voters get to know his liberal views, his negatives will rise"(Richard M. Nixon).
An image in which the light areas of the object rendered appear dark and the dark areas appear light.
A film, plate, or other photographic material containing such an image.
Grammar A word or part of a word, such as no, not, or non-, that indicates negation. See Usage Note at double negative.
The side in a debate that contradicts or opposes the question being debated.
An image in which the light areas of the object rendered appear dark and the dark areas appear light.
A film, plate, or other photographic material containing such an image.
Mathematics A negative quantity.
tr.v.
neg·a·tived, neg·a·tiv·ing, neg·a·tives
To refuse to approve; veto.
To deny; contradict.
To demonstrate to be false; disprove.
To counteract or neutralize.
[Middle English, from Old French negatif, from Latin negātīvus, from negātus, past participle of negāre, to deny; see negate.]
neg'a·tive·ly adv., neg'a·tive·ness, neg'a·tiv'i·ty (-tĭv'ĭ-tē) n.
c.1400, from O.Fr. negatif (fem. negative), 13c., from L. negativus, from negare (see deny). The electricity sense is from 1799. The noun is c.1380 in the sense "a prohibition;" in the photographic sense first recorded 1853. Negativism is 1824 as "the policy of opposition;" in a psychological sense, it is attested from 1892.
"Negative Capability, that is when a man is capable of being in uncertainties, Mysteries, doubts without any irritable reaching after fact and reason." [John Keats, letter, Dec. 21, 1817]
characterized by or displaying negation or denial or opposition or resistance; having no positive features; "a negative outlook on life"; "a colorless negative personality"; "a negative evaluation"; "a negative reaction to an advertising campaign" [ant: neutral, positive]
2.
expressing or consisting of a negation or refusal or denial [ant: affirmative]
3.
having the quality of something harmful or unpleasant; "ran a negative campaign"; "delinquents retarded by their negative outlook on life"
4.
not indicating the presence of microorganisms or disease or a specific condition; "the HIV test was negative" [ant: confirming]
5.
reckoned in a direction opposite to that regarded as positive; "negative interest rates" [ant: positive]
6.
less than zero; "a negative number"
7.
designed or tending to discredit, especially without positive or helpful suggestions; "negative criticism" [syn: damaging]
8.
having a negative charge; "electrons are negative"
9.
involving disadvantage or harm; "minus (or negative) factors" [syn: minus]
noun
1.
a reply of denial; "he answered in the negative" [ant: affirmative]
2.
a piece of photographic film showing an image with light and shade or colors reversed
verb
1.
vote against; refuse to endorse; refuse to assent; "The President vetoed the bill" [syn: veto]
Main Entry: neg·a·tive Pronunciation: 'neg-&t-iv Function: adjective 1: marked by denial, prohibition, or refusal 2: marked by features (as hostility or withdrawal) opposing constructive treatment or development 3 a: being, relating to, or charged with electricity of which the electron
is the elementary unit b (1) : having lower electrical potential and constituting the part toward which the current flows from the external circuit <the negative pole> (2)
: being the electron-emitting electrode of an electron tube 4 a: not affirming the presence of the organism or condition in question <a negative TB test>
b: directed or moving away from a source of stimulation <negative tropism> 5: having the light and dark parts in approximately inverse relation to
those of the original photographic subject —neg·a·tive·lyadverb
Af*firm"a*tive\, a. [L. affirmativus: cf. F. affirmatif.]1. Confirmative; ratifying; as, an act affirmative of common law. 2. That affirms; asserting that the fact is so; declaratory of what exists; answering "yes" to a question; -- opposed to negative; as, an affirmative answer; an affirmative vote. 3. Positive; dogmatic. [Obs.] --J. Taylor. Lysicles was a little by the affirmative air of Crito. --Berkeley. 4. (logic) Expressing the agreement of the two terms of a proposition. 5. (Alg.) Positive; -- a term applied to quantities which are to be added, and opposed to negative, or such as are to be subtracted.
Af*firm"a*tive\, a. [L. affirmativus: cf. F. affirmatif.]1. Confirmative; ratifying; as, an act affirmative of common law. 2. That affirms; asserting that the fact is so; declaratory of what exists; answering "yes" to a question; -- opposed to negative; as, an affirmative answer; an affirmative vote. 3. Positive; dogmatic. [Obs.] --J. Taylor. Lysicles was a little by the affirmative air of Crito. --Berkeley. 4. (logic) Expressing the agreement of the two terms of a proposition. 5. (Alg.) Positive; -- a term applied to quantities which are to be added, and opposed to negative, or such as are to be subtracted.
Af*firm"a*tive\, n. 1. That which affirms as opposed to that which denies; an affirmative proposition; that side of question which affirms or maintains the proposition stated; -- opposed to negative; as, there were forty votes in the affirmative, and ten in the negative. Whether there are such beings or not, 't is sufficient for my purpose that many have believed the affirmative. --Dryden. 2. A word or phrase expressing affirmation or assent; as, yes, that is so, etc.
Dem`on*stra"tion\, n. [L. demonstratio: cf. F. d['e]monstration.]1. The act of demonstrating; an exhibition; proof; especially, proof beyond the possibility of doubt; indubitable evidence, to the senses or reason. Those intervening ideas which serve to show the agreement of any two others are called "proofs;" and where agreement or disagreement is by this means plainly and clearly perceived, it is called demonstration. --Locke. 2. An expression, as of the feelings, by outward signs; a manifestation; a show. Did your letters pierce the queen to any demonstration of grief? --Shak. Loyal demonstrations toward the prince. --Prescott. 3. (Anat.) The exhibition and explanation of a dissection or other anatomical preparation. 4. (Mil.) a decisive exhibition of force, or a movement indicating an attack. 5. (Logic) The act of proving by the syllogistic process, or the proof itself. 6. (Math.) A course of reasoning showing that a certain result is a necessary consequence of assumed premises; -- these premises being definitions, axioms, and previously established propositions. Direct, or Positive, demonstration (Logic & Math.), one in which the correct conclusion is the immediate sequence of reasoning from axiomatic or established premises; -- opposed to Indirect, or Negative, demonstration (called also reductio ad absurdum), in which the correct conclusion is an inference from the demonstration that any other hypothesis must be incorrect.
Eye"piece`\, n. (Opt.) The lens, or combination of lenses, at the eye end of a telescope or other optical instrument, through which the image formed by the mirror or object glass is viewed. Collimating eyepiece. See under Collimate. Negative, or Huyghenian, eyepiece, an eyepiece consisting of two plano-convex lenses with their curved surfaces turned toward the object glass, and separated from each other by about half the sum of their focal distances, the image viewed by the eye being formed between the two lenses. it was devised by Huyghens, who applied it to the telescope. Campani applied it to the microscope, whence it is sometimes called Campani's eyepiece. Positive eyepiece, an eyepiece consisting of two plano-convex lenses placed with their curved surfaces toward each other, and separated by a distance somewhat less than the focal distance of the one nearest eye, the image of the object viewed being beyond both lenses; -- called also, from the name of the inventor, Ramsden's eyepiece. terrestrial, or Erecting eyepiece, an eyepiece used in telescopes for viewing terrestrial objects, consisting of three, or usually four, lenses, so arranged as to present the image of the object viewed in an erect position.
Mi"nus\, a. [L. See Minor, and cf. Mis- pref. from the French.] (Math.) Less; requiring to be subtracted; negative; as, a minus quantity. Minus sign (Math.), the sign [-] denoting minus, or less, prefixed to negative quantities, or quantities to be subtracted. See Negative sign, under Negative.
Ne\, adv. [AS. ne. See No.] Not; never. [Obs.] He never yet no villany ne said. --Chaucer. Note: Ne was formerly used as the universal adverb of negation, and survives in certain compounds, as never (= ne ever) and none (= ne one). Other combinations, now obsolete, will be found in the Vocabulary, as nad, nam, nil. See Negative, 2.
Neg"a*tive\, a. [F. n['e]gatif, L. negativus, fr. negare to deny. See Negation.]1. Denying; implying, containing, or asserting denial, negation or refusal; returning the answer no to an inquiry or request; refusing assent; as, a negative answer; a negative opinion; -- opposed to affirmative. If thou wilt confess, Or else be impudently negative. --Shak. 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; 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 proposition. 4. (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; -- contracted with positive or basic; as, the nitro group is negative. Note: 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[deg] on a thermometer means 10[deg] below the zero of the scale.
Neg"a*tive\, n. [Cf. F. n['e]gative.]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. Note: 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 nor never shall So much as frown on you. --Shak. 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. Note: A negative is chiefly used for producing photographs by means of the sun's light passing 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\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Negatived; p. pr. & vb. n. Negativing.]1. To prove unreal or intrue; 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 bill. 3. To neutralize the force of; to counteract.
Pos"i*tive\, a. [OE. positif, F. positif, L. positivus. See Position.]1. Having a real position, existence, or energy; existing in fact; real; actual; -- opposed to negative. "Positive good." --Bacon. 2. Derived from an object by itself; not dependent on changing circumstances or relations; absolute; -- opposed to relative; as, the idea of beauty is not positive, but depends on the different tastes individuals. 3. Definitely laid down; explicitly stated; clearly expressed; -- opposed to implied; as, a positive declaration or promise. Positive words, that he would not bear arms against King Edward's son. --Bacon. 4. Hence: Not admitting of any doubt, condition, qualification, or discretion; not dependent on circumstances or probabilities; not speculative; compelling assent or obedience; peremptory; indisputable; decisive; as, positive instructions; positive truth; positive proof. "'T is positive 'gainst all exceptions." --Shak. 5. Prescribed by express enactment or institution; settled by arbitrary appointment; said of laws. In laws, that which is natural bindeth universally; that which is positive, not so. --Hooker. 6. Fully assured; confident; certain; sometimes, overconfident; dogmatic; overbearing; -- said of persons. Some positive, persisting fops we know, That, if once wrong, will needs be always. --Pope. 7. Having the power of direct action or influence; as, a positive voice in legislation. --Swift. 8. (Photog.) Corresponding with the original in respect to the position of lights and shades, instead of having the lights and shades reversed; as, a positive picture. 9. (Chem.) (a) Electro-positive. (b) Hence, basic; metallic; not acid; -- opposed to negative, and said of metals, bases, and basic radicals. Positive crystals (Opt.), a doubly refracting crystal in which the index of refraction for the extraordinary ray is greater than for the ordinary ray, and the former is refracted nearer to the axis than the latter, as quartz and ice; -- opposed to negative crystal, or one in which this characteristic is reversed, as Iceland spar, tourmaline, etc. Positive degree (Gram.), that state of an adjective or adverb which denotes simple quality, without comparison or relation to increase or diminution; as, wise, noble. Positive electricity (Elec), the kind of electricity which is developed when glass is rubbed with silk, or which appears at that pole of a voltaic battery attached to the plate that is not attacked by the exciting liquid; -- formerly called vitreous electricity; -- opposed to negative electricity. Positive eyepiece. See under Eyepiece. Positive law. See Municipal law, under Law. Positive motion (Mach.), motion which is derived from a driver through unyielding intermediate pieces, or by direct contact, and not through elastic connections, nor by means of friction, gravity, etc.; definite motion. Positive philosophy. See Positivism. Positive pole. (a) (Elec.) The pole of a battery or pile which yields positive or vitreous electricity; -- opposed to negative pole. (b) (Magnetism) The north pole. [R.] Positive quantity (Alg.), an affirmative quantity, or one affected by the sign plus [+]. Positive rotation (Mech.), left-handed rotation. Positive sign (Math.), the sign [+] denoting plus, or more, or addition.
Res"in*ous\ (-?s), a. [L. resinous: cf. F. r['e]sineux. See Resin.] Of or pertaining to resin; of the nature of resin; resembling or obtained from resin. Resinous electricity (Elec.), electricity which is exited by rubbing bodies of the resinous kind. See Negative electricity, under Negative.
Re*versed"\, a. 1. Turned side for side, or end for end; changed to the contrary; specifically (Bot. & Zo["o]l.), sinistrorse or sinistral; as, a reversed, or sinistral, spiral or shell. 2. (Law) Annulled and the contrary substituted; as, a reversed judgment or decree. Reversed positive or negative (Photog.), a picture corresponding with the original in light and shade, but reversed as to right and left. --Abney.
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