Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1722-1753, 1868
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NEGATIVE, adv. Sc. Law term = negatively, in the negative, giving the answer “no”. [nɛgɑ′tɑevɪ]Sc. 1722 W. Forbes Institute I. iv. 230:
If he depone negative, that he doth believe it to be true.Sc. 1753 Scots Mag. (July) 349:
And being interrogate for the pannel, Whether the pannel had advised him the deponent to engage as bouman in Lettermore, if better could not be provided for him? depones negative.Sc. 1868 J. Maidment Bk. Sc. Pasquils 238:
This cherub . . . swore negative to use a law expression, much to the astonishment of Fountainhall.
