Negative

7 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Negative \Neg"a*tive\ (n[e^]g"[.a]*t[i^]v), 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.


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              This is a known rule in divinity, that there is no
              command that runs in negatives but couches under it
              a positive duty.                      --South.
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     2. A word used in denial or refusal; as, not, no.
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     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.
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                 No wine ne drank she, neither white nor red.
                                                    --Chaucer.
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                 These eyes that never did nor never shall
                 So much as frown on you.           --Shak.
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     3. The refusal or withholding of assents; veto.
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              If a kind without his kingdom be, in a civil sense,
              nothing, then . . . his negative is as good as
              nothing.                              --Milton.
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     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.
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     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.
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     Note: 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.
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     6. (Elect.) The negative plate of a voltaic or electrolytic
        cell.
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     {Negative pregnant} (Law), a negation which implies an
        affirmation.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Negative \Neg"a*tive\ (n[e^]g"[.a]*t[i^]v), 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}.
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              If thou wilt confess,
              Or else be impudently negative.       --Shak.
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              Denying me any power of a negative voice. --Eikon
                                                    Basilike.
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              Something between an affirmative bow and a negative
              shake.                                --Dickens.
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     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.
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              There in another way of denying Christ, . . . which
              is negative, when we do not acknowledge and confess
              him.                                  --South.
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     3. (Logic) Asserting absence of connection between a subject
        and a predicate; as, a negative proposition.
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     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.
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     5. (Chem.) Metalloidal; nonmetallic; -- contrasted with
        {positive} or {basic}; as, the nitro group is negative.
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     Note: This word, derived from electro-negative, is now
           commonly used in a more general sense, when acidiferous
           is the intended signification.
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     {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.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Negative \Neg"a*tive\ (n[e^]g"[.a]*t[i^]v), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
     {Negatived} (n[e^]g"[.a]*t[i^]vd); p. pr. & vb. n.
     {Negativing}.]
     1. To prove unreal or untrue; to disprove.
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              The omission or infrequency of such recitals does
              not negative the existence of miracles. --Paley.
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     2. To reject by vote; to refuse to enact or sanction; as, the
        Senate negatived the bill.
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     3. To neutralize the force of; to counteract.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  eyepiece \eye"piece`\ eye-piece \eye"-piece`\, n. (Opt.)
     The lens, or combination of lenses, at the eye end of a
     microscope, telescope or other optical instrument, through
     which the image formed by the mirror or object glass is
     viewed.
  
     Syn: ocular.
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     {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.
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From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  negative
       adj 1: 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: reckoned in a direction opposite to that regarded as
          positive
       3: having a negative electric charge; "electrons are negative"
          [syn: {electronegative}] [ant: {neutral}, {positive}]
       4: expressing or consisting of a negation or refusal or denial
          [ant: {affirmative}]
       5: having the quality of something harmful or unpleasant; "ran
          a negative campaign"; "delinquents retarded by their
          negative outlook on life"
       6: not indicating the presence of microorganisms or disease or
          a specific condition; "the HIV test was negative" [syn: {disconfirming}]
          [ant: {positive}]
       7: less than zero; "a negative number"
       8: designed or tending to discredit, especially without
          positive or helpful suggestions; "negative criticism"
          [syn: {damaging}]
       9: involving disadvantage or harm; "minus (or negative)
          factors" [syn: {minus}]
       n 1: a reply of denial; "he answered in the negative" [ant: {affirmative}]
       2: a piece of photographic film showing an image with black and
          white tones reversed
       v : vote against; refuse to endorse; refuse to assent; "The
           President vetoed the bill" [syn: {veto}, {blackball}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  406 Moby Thesaurus words for "negative":
     Cassandra-like, Cassandran, Cassandrian, Ditto copy, Photostat,
     Xerox, Xerox copy, abjuratory, abnegate, abnegation, abnegative,
     abolish, abrogate, absolute veto, adversary, adversative, adverse,
     algorismic, algorithmic, alien, aliquot, annihilate, annul,
     annulling, antagonistic, anti, antipathetic, antithetic, aquatint,
     argumentative, at cross-purposes, at loggerheads, at odds,
     at variance, at war, au contraire, autolithograph, aye, backing,
     be unmoved, be unwilling, beg off, belie, bibliofilm, bipack,
     black-and-white film, block, block print, blow sky-high, blow up,
     bring to naught, bring to nothing, buffer, cancel, cancel out,
     cancelling, cardinal, cartridge, cast, certainly not,
     chromolithograph, clashing, cold, color film, color negative film,
     color print, come to nothing, competitive, con, conflicting,
     contact print, contradict, contradicting, contradiction,
     contradictory, contrary, contravene, cool, copperplate,
     copperplate print, counter, counteract, counterbalance,
     countercheck, cranky, crayon engraving, cross, cut, cynical,
     deaf to, decimal, declension, declination, declinatory,
     declinature, decline, decline to accept, declining, defeatist,
     deflate, denial, denying, deprivation, detrimental, devoid, die,
     differential, differing, digital, disaccordant, disaffirm,
     disaffirming, disagree, disagreeable, disagreeing, disagreement,
     disallow, disallowance, disallowing, disavowing, disclaim,
     disclaimer, disclaiming, disclamation, disconfirm, discordant,
     discredit, discrepant, disharmonious, dismal, disobedience,
     disobedient, disowning, disproportionate, disprove, disputatious,
     disputing, dissent, dissentient, dissenting, dissentious,
     dissident, dissonant, divergent, dope, downbeat, dry plate,
     emulsion, enemy, engravement, engraving, enlargement, etching,
     even, existless, explode, exponential, expose, far from it,
     figural, figurate, figurative, film, finite, form, fractional,
     fractious, frame, frustrate, gainsay, gainsaying, gloomy,
     graphotype, grating, hectograph copy, hold out against,
     holding back, hostile, imaginary, immiscible, impair, impossible,
     impress, impression, imprint, impugn, in the negative, inaccordant,
     incompatible, infinite, inharmonious, inimical, intaglio, integral,
     interest, invalidate, irrational, item veto, jangling, jarring,
     kill, lacking, last, limited negative, limited veto,
     linoleum-block print, lithograph, logarithmic, logometric, matrix,
     mezzotint, microfilm, mimeograph copy, mint, minuend, minus,
     missing, mold, monochromatic film, motion-picture film, nay,
     naysaying, negate, negating, negation, negativate, negative answer,
     negative attitude, negatively, negativeness, negativism,
     negativistic, negativity, negatory, nein, neutralize, neutralizing,
     nihilistic, nix, no, no such thing, non, nonacceptance,
     noncompliance, nonconsent, nonconsenting, noncooperative,
     nonexistent, nonobservance, not, not a bit, not a jot, not a whit,
     not buy, not consent, not hear of, not really, not so,
     not think of, null, nullify, nullifying, numeral, numerary,
     numerative, numeric, nyet, obstinate, odd, offprint, offset,
     opponent, opposed, opposing, opposite, oppositional, oppositive,
     oppugnant, ordinal, orthochromatic film, out of accord,
     out of whack, overthwart, pack, pair, panchromatic film, perverse,
     pessimist, pessimistic, photocopy, photograph, photographic paper,
     photostatic copy, plate, plus, pocket veto, positive, prime, print,
     printing paper, pro, proof, prove the contrary, punch, puncture,
     quite the contrary, radical, rational, real, recalcitrant,
     recantation, recanting, reciprocal, redress, refractory, refusal,
     refuse, refuse consent, refusing, reject, rejection, rejective,
     renunciative, renunciatory, repeal, reprint, repudiate,
     repudiation, repudiative, repugnant, resist entreaty,
     resist persuasion, retention, revocative, revocatory, revoke,
     rival, roll, rubber-block print, rule against, say nay, say no,
     seal, shake the head, shoe last, show up, side, sound film,
     sound track, sound-on-film, soundstripe, stamp, stand aloof, stat,
     stultify, submultiple, subtrahend, surd, suspensory veto, template,
     the affirmative, the negative, thumbs-down, thwart,
     to the contrary, transcendental, traverse, tripack, turn down,
     turndown, uncheerful, uncomplaisant, uncompliant, uncomplying,
     uncongenial, unconsenting, uncooperative, undercut, undo,
     unenthusiastic, unexisting, unfavorable, unfriendly, unharmonious,
     uninterested, unpropitious, unresponsive, unwilling, unwillingness,
     vacuous, variant, vehicle, veto, vignette, vitiate, void, voiding,
     vote nay, vote negatively, withholding, without being,
     wood engraving, woodblock, woodcut, woodprint, xylograph
  
  

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  NEGATIVE. This word has several significations. 1. It is used in 
  contradistinction to giving assent; thus we say the president has put his 
  negative upon such a bill. Vide Veto. 2. It is also used in 
  contradistinction to affirmative; as, a negative does not always admit of 
  the simple and direct proof of which an affirmative is capable. When a party 
  affirms a negative in his pleadings, and without the establishment of which, 
  by evidence, he cannot recover or defend himself, the burden of the proof 
  lies upon him, and he must prove the negative. 8 Toull. n. 18. Vide 2 Gall. 
  Rep. 485; 1 McCord, R. 573; 11 John. R. 513; 19 John. R. 345; 1 Pick. R. 
  375; Gilb. Ev. 145; 1 Stark. Ev. 376; Bull. N. P. 298; 15 Vin. Ab. 540; Bac. 
  Ab. Pleas, &c. I. 
      202. Although as a general rule the affirmative of every issue must be 
  proved, yet this rule ceases to operate the moment the presumption of law is 
  thrown into the other scale. When the issue is on the legitimacy of a child, 
  therefore, it is incumbent on the party asserting the illegitimacy to prove 
  it. 2 Selw. N. P. 709. Vide Affirmative Innocence.