An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. General: Expressing, containing, or consisting of a negation, refusal, or denial.
   

2. Math.: Of or relating to a quantity less than zero. Of or relating to the sign (-).
   

3. Physics: Of or relating to an electric charge of the same sign as that of an electron.
   

4. Photography: Having dark for light and light for dark.
   

5. Opposite of → positive.
   

See also:
→ negative charge, → negative correlation, → negative crystal, → negative feedback, → negative lens, → negative number, → negative polarization, → negative pressure, → negative skewness.

Etymology (EN): From O.Fr. negatif (fem. negative), from L. negativus, “denying, inhibiting (legal actions); denied/refused; negative,” from negare “to refuse, say ’no’” from Old L. nec “not”, from Italic base *nek- “not,” from PIE base *ne- “no, not.”

Etymology (PE): Nâyidâr, from nâyidan, → negate, on the model of xaridâr, foruxtâr, xâstâr, virâstâr, etc.