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5 definitions found
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 :   [ gcide ]

  Negative \Neg"a*tive\ (n[e^]g"[.a]*t[i^]v), a. [F. n['e]gatif,
     L. negativus, fr. negare to deny. See Negation.]
     1. Denying; implying, containing, or asserting denial,
        negation or refusal; returning the answer no to an inquiry
        or request; refusing assent; as, a negative answer; a
        negative opinion; -- opposed to affirmative.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              If thou wilt confess,
              Or else be impudently negative.       --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Denying me any power of a negative voice. --Eikon
                                                    Basilike.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Something between an affirmative bow and a negative
              shake.                                --Dickens.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Not positive; without affirmative statement or
        demonstration; indirect; consisting in the absence of
        something; privative; as, a negative argument; negative
        evidence; a negative morality; negative criticism.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              There in another way of denying Christ, . . . which
              is negative, when we do not acknowledge and confess
              him.                                  --South.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Logic) Asserting absence of connection between a subject
        and a predicate; as, a negative proposition.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. (Photog.) Of or pertaining to a picture upon glass or
        other material, in which the lights and shades of the
        original, and the relations of right and left, are
        reversed.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     5. (Chem.) Metalloidal; nonmetallic; -- contrasted with
        positive or basic; as, the nitro group is negative.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: This word, derived from electro-negative, is now
           commonly used in a more general sense, when acidiferous
           is the intended signification.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     Negative crystal.
        (a) A cavity in a mineral mass, having the form of a
            crystal.
        (b) A crystal which has the power of negative double
            refraction. See refraction.
  
     negative electricity (Elec.), the kind of electricity which
        is developed upon resin or ebonite when rubbed, or which
        appears at that pole of a voltaic battery which is
        connected with the plate most attacked by the exciting
        liquid; -- formerly called resinous electricity. Opposed
        to positive electricity. Formerly, according to
        Franklin's theory of a single electric fluid, negative
        electricity was supposed to be electricity in a degree
        below saturation, or the natural amount for a given body.
        See Electricity.
  
     Negative eyepiece. (Opt.) see under Eyepiece.
  
     Negative quantity (Alg.), a quantity preceded by the
        negative sign, or which stands in the relation indicated
        by this sign to some other quantity. See Negative sign
        (below).
  
     Negative rotation, right-handed rotation. See
        Right-handed, 3.
  
     Negative sign, the sign -, or minus (opposed in
        signification to +, or plus), indicating that the
        quantity to which it is prefixed is to be subtracted from
        the preceding quantity, or is to be reckoned from zero or
        cipher in the opposite direction to that of quanties
        having the sign plus either expressed or understood; thus,
        in a - b, b is to be substracted from a, or regarded as
        opposite to it in value; and -10[deg] on a thermometer
        means 10[deg] below the zero of the scale.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 :   [ gcide ]

  Electricity \E`lec*tric"i*ty\ ([=e]`l[e^]k*tr[i^]s"[i^]*t[y^]),
     n.; pl. Electricities ([=e]`l[e^]k*tr[i^]s"[i^]*t[i^]z).
     [Cf. F. ['e]lectricit['e]. See Electric.]
     1. (Physics) a property of certain of the fundamental
        particles of which matter is composed, called also
        electric charge, and being of two types, designated
        positive and negative; the property of electric charge on
        a particle or physical body creates a force field which
        affects other particles or bodies possessing electric
        charge; positive charges create a repulsive force between
        them, and negative charges also create a repulsive force.
        A positively charged body and a negatively charged body
        will create an attractive force between them. The unit of
        electrical charge is the coulomb, and the intensity of
        the force field at any point is measured in volts.
        [PJC]
  
     2. any of several phenomena associated with the accumulation
        or movement of electrically charged particles within
        material bodies, classified as static electricity and
        electric current. Static electricity is often observed
        in everyday life, when it causes certain materials to
        cling together; when sufficient static charge is
        accumulated, an electric current may pass through the air
        between two charged bodies, and is observed as a visible
        spark; when the spark passes from a human body to another
        object it may be felt as a mild to strong painful
        sensation. Electricity in the form of electric current is
        put to many practical uses in electrical and electronic
        devices. Lightning is also known to be a form of electric
        current passing between clouds and the ground, or between
        two clouds. Electric currents may produce heat, light,
        concussion, and often chemical changes when passed between
        objects or through any imperfectly conducting substance or
        space. Accumulation of electrical charge or generation of
        a voltage differnce between two parts of a complex object
        may be caused by any of a variety of disturbances of
        molecular equilibrium, whether from a chemical, physical,
        or mechanical, cause. Electric current in metals and most
        other solid coductors is carried by the movement of
        electrons from one part of the metal to another. In ionic
        solutions and in semiconductors, other types of movement
        of charged particles may be responsible for the observed
        electrical current.
        [PJC]
  
     Note: Electricity is manifested under following different
           forms: (a)
  
     Statical electricity, called also
  
     Frictional electricity or Common electricity, electricity
        in the condition of a stationary charge, in which the
        disturbance is produced by friction, as of glass, amber,
        etc., or by induction. (b)
  
     Dynamical electricity, called also
  
     Voltaic electricity, electricity in motion, or as a current
        produced by chemical decomposition, as by means of a
        voltaic battery, or by mechanical action, as by
        dynamo-electric machines. (c)
  
     Thermoelectricity, in which the disturbing cause is heat
        (attended possibly with some chemical action). It is
        developed by uniting two pieces of unlike metals in a bar,
        and then heating the bar unequally. (d)
  
     Atmospheric electricity, any condition of electrical
        disturbance in the atmosphere or clouds, due to some or
        all of the above mentioned causes. (e)
  
     Magnetic electricity, electricity developed by the action
        of magnets. (f)
  
     Positive electricity, the electricity that appears at the
        positive pole or anode of a battery, or that is produced
        by friction of glass; -- called also vitreous
        electricity. (g)
  
     Negative electricity, the electricity that appears at the
        negative pole or cathode, or is produced by the friction
        of resinous substance; -- called also resinous
        electricity. (h)
  
     Organic electricity, that which is developed in organic
        structures, either animal or vegetable, the phrase animal
        electricity being much more common.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. The science which studies the phenomena and laws of
        electricity; electrical science.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. Fig.: excitement, anticipation, or emotional tension,
        usually caused by the occurrence or expectation of
        something unusual or important.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) :   [ web1913 ]

  Negative \Neg"a*tive\, a. [F. n['e]gatif, L. negativus, fr.
     negare to deny. See Negation.]
     1. Denying; implying, containing, or asserting denial,
        negation or refusal; returning the answer no to an inquiry
        or request; refusing assent; as, a negative answer; a
        negative opinion; -- opposed to affirmative.
  
              If thou wilt confess, Or else be impudently
              negative.                             --Shak.
  
              Denying me any power of a negative voice. --Eikon
                                                    Basilike.
  
              Something between an affirmative bow and a negative
              shake.                                --Dickens.
  
     2. Not positive; without affirmative statement or
        demonstration; indirect; consisting in the absence of
        something; privative; as, a negative argument; a negative
        morality; negative criticism.
  
              There in another way of denying Christ, . . . which
              is negative, when we do not acknowledge and confess
              him.                                  --South.
  
     3. (Logic) Asserting absence of connection between a subject
        and a predicate; as, a negative proposition.
  
     4. (Photog.) Of or pertaining to a picture upon glass or
        other material, in which the lights and shades of the
        original, and the relations of right and left, are
        reversed.
  
     5. (Chem.) Metalloidal; nonmetallic; -- contracted with
        positive or basic; as, the nitro group is negative.
  
     Note: This word, derived from electro-negative, is now
           commonly used in a more general sense, when acidiferous
           is the intended signification.
  
     Negative crystal.
        (a) A cavity in a mineral mass, having the form of a
            crystal.
        (b) A crystal which has the power of negative double
            refraction. See refraction.
  
     negative electricity (Elec.), the kind of electricity which
        is developed upon resin or ebonite when rubbed, or which
        appears at that pole of a voltaic battery which is
        connected with the plate most attacked by the exciting
        liquid; -- formerly called resinous electricity. Opposed
        to positive electricity. Formerly, according to
        Franklin's theory of a single electric fluid, negative
        electricity was supposed to be electricity in a degree
        below saturation, or the natural amount for a given body.
        see Electricity.
  
     Negative eyepiece. (Opt.) see under Eyepiece.
  
     Negative quantity (Alg.), a quantity preceded by the
        negative sign, or which stands in the relation indicated
        by this sign to some other quantity. See Negative sign
        (below).
  
     Negative rotation, right-handed rotation. See
        Right-handed, 3.
  
     Negative sign, the sign -, or minus (opposed in
        signification to +, or plus), indicating that the
        quantity to which it is prefixed is to be subtracted from
        the preceding quantity, or is to be reckoned from zero or
        cipher in the opposite direction to that of quanties
        having the sign plus either expressed or understood; thus,
        in a - b, b is to be substracted from a, or regarded as
        opposite to it in value; and -10[deg] on a thermometer
        means 10[deg] below the zero of the scale.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) :   [ web1913 ]

  Electricity \E`lec*tric"i*ty\, n.; pl. Electricities. [Cf. F.
     ['e]lectricit['e]. See Electric.]
     1. A power in nature, a manifestation of energy, exhibiting
        itself when in disturbed equilibrium or in activity by a
        circuit movement, the fact of direction in which involves
        polarity, or opposition of properties in opposite
        directions; also, by attraction for many substances, by a
        law involving attraction between surfaces of unlike
        polarity, and repulsion between those of like; by
        exhibiting accumulated polar tension when the circuit is
        broken; and by producing heat, light, concussion, and
        often chemical changes when the circuit passes between the
        poles or through any imperfectly conducting substance or
        space. It is generally brought into action by any
        disturbance of molecular equilibrium, whether from a
        chemical, physical, or mechanical, cause.
  
     Note: Electricity is manifested under following different
           forms: (a)
  
     Statical electricity, called also
  
     Frictional or Common, electricity, electricity in the
        condition of a stationary charge, in which the disturbance
        is produced by friction, as of glass, amber, etc., or by
        induction. (b)
  
     Dynamical electricity, called also
  
     Voltaic electricity, electricity in motion, or as a current
        produced by chemical decomposition, as by means of a
        voltaic battery, or by mechanical action, as by
        dynamo-electric machines. (c)
  
     Thermoelectricity, in which the disturbing cause is heat
        (attended possibly with some chemical action). It is
        developed by uniting two pieces of unlike metals in a bar,
        and then heating the bar unequally. (d)
  
     Atmospheric electricity, any condition of electrical
        disturbance in the atmosphere or clouds, due to some or
        all of the above mentioned causes. (e)
  
     Magnetic electricity, electricity developed by the action
        of magnets. (f)
  
     Positive electricity, the electricity that appears at the
        positive pole or anode of a battery, or that is produced
        by friction of glass; -- called also vitreous
        electricity. (g)
  
     Negative electricity, the electricity that appears at the
        negative pole or cathode, or is produced by the friction
        of resinous substance; -- called also resinous
        electricity. (h)
  
     Organic electricity, that which is developed in organic
        structures, either animal or vegetable, the phrase animal
        electricity being much more common.
  
     2. The science which unfolds the phenomena and laws of
        electricity; electrical science.
  
     3. Fig.: Electrifying energy or characteristic.

From English - German Ding/FreeDict dictionary ver. 1.9-fd1 :   [ freedict:eng-deu ]

  negative electricity /nˈɛɡətˌɪv ɪlɛktɹˈɪsɪti/
  negative Elektrizität, Minuselektrizität
   see: electricity, vitreous electricity
  

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