universal negative

American  

noun

Logic.

1. a proposition of the form “No S is P.” E, e

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Example Sentences

And, similarly, writing x for 'angels' and y for 'ugly,' we may express E., the universal negative, thus: E. xy = 0.

From Logic Deductive and Inductive by Read, Carveth

And in the demonstration of this, he gives one maxim in a question, which is equivalent to an universal negative, Job xxxiv.

From A Hind Let Loose Or, An Historical Representation of the Testimonies of the Church of Scotland for the Interest of Christ. With the True State Thereof in All Its Periods by Shields, Alexander

It cannot testify to any such universal negative; and one might as well require a mathematical demonstration of the point in dispute, as to demand such evidence from us.

From An Examination of President Edwards' Inquiry into the Freedom of the Will by Bledsoe, Albert Taylor

The letters I, E and O are used respectively for the particular affirmative ``some x is y,'' the universal negative ``no x is y,'' and the particular negative ``some x is not y.''

From The Project Gutenberg Encyclopedia Volume 1 of 28 by Project Gutenberg

And the universal negative "nobody calls on her" is well met by the particular affirmative "I called yesterday."

From A Tangled Tale by Frost, A. B. (Arthur Burdett)