Etymology Dictionary

NEGATION,  denial.  (F.,—L.)   In Shak. Troilus, v. 2. 127.—F. negation, 'a negation;' Cot.—Lat. acc. negationem, from nom. negatio.—Lat. negatus, pp. of negare, to deny.   β. Negare is opposed to aiere, to affirm; and though the mode of its formation is not clear, it may be taken as due to ne, not, and aiere, to say.   γ. This verb aiere is allied to Gk. ὴμι, I say, and to Skt. ah, to say, to speak.   The Skt. ah stands for older agh; and all are from ✔AGH, to say, speak, affirm.   For the prefix ne, see No.   Der. negat-ive, adj., Wint. Tale, i. 2. 274, M.E. negatif (to be found, according to Richardson, in b. iii. of the Testament of Love), from F. negatif = Lat. negatiuus; negative-ly, negative-ness; also negative, sb., Twelfth Nt. v. 24.   From the same Lat. negare we have de-ny, ab-negate, re-negate, re-negade.