negative

adj. [数] 负的；消极的；否定的；阴性的

n. 否定；负数；[摄] 底片

vt. 否定；拒绝

中文词源

negative 负的，负极的，消极的

来自negate,否定。引申义负的，负极，消极的等。

negative: negative: see renegade
negative (adj.): c. 1400, "expressing denial," from Old French negatif (13c.) and directly from Latin negativus "that which denies," from negat-, past participle stem of negare "deny, say no" (see deny). Meaning "expressing negation" is from c. 1500; that of "characterized by absence" is from 1560s. Algebraic sense is from 1670s. The electricity sense is from 1755.
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]
Related: Negatively.
negative (n.): late 14c., "a prohibition; absence, nonexistence; opposite," from Old French negatif and directly from Latin negativus (see negative (adj.)). Meaning "a negative statement" is from 1560s. As a response, "I refuse, disagree, no," from 1945. Meaning "a negative quality" is from 1640s. In mathematics, "a negative number," from 1706. Photographic sense first recorded 1853.

1. So far 57 have taken the test and all have been negative.: 到目前为止，参加测试的有57人，测试结果均呈阴性。

2. Seventy-nine voted in the affirmative, and none in the negative.: 79人投赞成票，没有人投反对票。

3. Stimulate the site of greatest pain with a small negative current.: 以微弱负电流刺激疼得最厉害的部位。

5. It's just one of those words that's got so many negative connotations.: 这只是那种有太多负面含义的词之一。