negative

/ˈneɡətɪv/NEH-guh-tiv

/ˈnɛɡətɪv/NEH-guh-tiv

Meaningdenying

Common meaning: saying no

Other meanings: less than zero

negto say no, denyLewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), p. 1198 · scan
ativeadjective ending: tending to

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Built on Latin negō ‘to say no, deny’.

Did you know: our wording, based on Lewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), entry negō, p. 1198 · dictionary scan; Skeat, Etymological Dictionary (1898), entry RENEGADE, p. 501 · dictionary scan

Roots

negō, negāvī Latin “to say no, deny”

Related words

deny negate neglect renegade

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