Middle English Dictionary Entry
negatī̆f n.
Entry Info
| Forms | negatī̆f n. Also -tive. |
| Etymology | L & OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Absence, nonexistence; (b) opposite; (c) a negative command, prohibition; (d) ?a negative statement about ideas or sensory impressions, negative classification.
Associated quotations
a
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)95/20 : Suche maner badnesse, whiche is used to purifye wrong-doers, is somwhat..Other badnesse no being hath utterly; it is in the negative of somwhat, and that is naught and nothing being.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)109/92-3 : Badde is nothing els but absence or negative of good, as derkenesse is absence or negative of light.
b
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)143/17 : In him god doth that they ben and that in goodnesse they werchen, But the negatif herof in badnesse is holden.
c
- c1400(?c1383) Wycl.VSacerd.(Bod 647)234 : O, if God so scharply biddes þese negatifes..who are more heretikes þen þese þat done hit ageynes hym?
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)506 : Summe comaundementis of God ben negatyues, that is to seie, weernyngis or forbodis.
d
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.312 : Knowen þinges þan sewynglye So he [the soul] devideþ be a negatyue And afterwardes be affirmatyue.