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negate

[ni-geyt, neg-eyt]
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verb (used with object), ne·gat·ed, ne·gat·ing.
  1. to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of: an investigation tending to negate any supernatural influences.
  2. to nullify or cause to be ineffective: Progress on the study has been negated by the lack of funds.
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verb (used without object), ne·gat·ed, ne·gat·ing.
  1. to be negative; bring or cause negative results: a pessimism that always negates.
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Origin of negate

1615–25; < Latin negātus (past participle of negāre to deny, refuse), equivalent to neg- (variant of nec not; see neglect) + -ā- theme vowel + -tus past participle suffix
Related formsne·ga·tor, ne·gat·er, nounre·ne·gate, verb (used with object), re·ne·gat·ed, re·ne·gat·ing.self-ne·gat·ing, adjectiveun·ne·gat·ed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

invalidatereverseneutralizevoidundodisallownullifybelievitiatedisproverebutannihilatedingtraverserevokedumpblackballnegativecontrovertredress

Examples from the Web for negating

Historical Examples

  • On the other hand, as regards the point of allegiance, he was negating the whole established doctrine of the British constitution.

    Charles Bradlaugh: a Record of His Life and Work, Volume II (of 2)

    Hypatia Bradlaugh Bonner and J. M. (John Mackinnon) Robertson

  • They are negating these concepts to put new ones in their place!

  • First of all, it is a negating of the sensible world and a going into the supersensible, a seeking of the spirit without the body.

    Homer's Odyssey

    Denton J. Snider

  • Rudders on the Aztec compensated, she leaned slightly into the blast, negating its drift.

  • Nevertheless they are of considerable value in confirming, negating, or modifying the ethnographic data.

British Dictionary definitions for negating

negate

verb (tr)
  1. to make ineffective or void; nullify; invalidate
  2. to deny or contradict
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Derived Formsnegator or negater, noun

Word Origin

C17: from Latin negāre, from neg-, variant of nec not + aio I say
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for negating

negate

v.

1795 (with an isolated use from 1620s), back-formation from negation, or else from Latin negatus, past participle of negare. Related: Negated; negates; negating.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper