negative English · revision 2958

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1380|origins=la negō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈneɡ.ə.tɪv/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|negatif]],^(Etymonline) [[bor|xno|negatif]],^(Etymonline) Old French negatif,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) and directly [[der|la-lat|negātīvus|t=that which denies]],^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)^(SOED 2002) from [[m|la|negātus]], past participle of [[m|la|negāre|t=to deny, say no]].^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)^(MWU 2024) It is related to [[deny]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The noun, a negative command or prohibition: about 1380,^(OED 1989) the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) The adjective, “making denial”, of persons: about 1400.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The adjective meant “expressing negation” from about 1500,^(Etymonline) or 1509 in the OED,^(OED 1989) and of commands “prohibitory” from 1526.^(OED 1989) “Marked by the absence of the positive” is from the 1560s.^(Etymonline) The algebraic sense, of quantities less than zero, is from the 1670s,^(Etymonline) and the electrical sense from 1755.^(Etymonline) The noun meant a negative statement from the 1560s and a negative reply from 1571,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and the right of veto from 1613.^(OED 1989) A negative number is from 1706.^(Etymonline) A photographic image with light and dark reversed is recorded by 1853.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) ''Negative'' as a reply meaning “no”, first in radio communication, is from 1945 in Etymonline^(Etymonline) and 1946 in the OED.^(OED 1989) The verb, “to veto, reject”, is American from the early 18th century.^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1380 – noun, a prohibition.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1400 – adjective, denying.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1509 – expressing negation.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1560s – lacking positive qualities.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1670s – in algebra, less than zero.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1706 – verb, to veto.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1755 – in electricity.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1853 – a photographic negative.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1945 – “no”, in radio communication.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Expressing denial or refusal: ''a negative answer''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Lacking positive qualities; [[pessimistic]] or unfavourable.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(mathematics)'' Less than zero.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(physics)'' Having an [[electric charge]] of the kind carried by [[electron|alt=electrons]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(medicine)'' Not showing the presence of a condition or organism being tested for.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Of a photograph, having light and dark reversed.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A statement or reply expressing denial.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A photographic image with light and dark reversed, used to make prints.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A negative quality or aspect; a drawback.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To refuse to accept; to [[veto]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To deny or [[disprove]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[negatively]]

+ * [[negativeness]]

+ * [[negativity]]

+ * [[electronegative]]

+ * [[photonegative]]

+ * [[seronegative]]

+ * [[gram-negative]]

+ * [[internegative]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[negate]]

+ * [[negation]]

+ * [[negativism]]

+ * [[negatory]]

+ * [[deny]]

+ * [[renegade]]

+ * [[positive]]

+ * [[affirmative]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Keats's phrase ''negative capability'' (1817) describes the capacity to remain in uncertainty and doubt without reaching irritably after fact and reason.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}