Ne*ga"tion (?), n. [L. negatio, fr. negare to say no, to deny; ne not + the root of aio I say; cf. Gr. , Skr. ah to say; cf. F. n'egation. See No, adv., and cf. Adage, Deny, Renegade.]
1.
The act of denying; assertion of the nonreality or untruthfulness of anything; declaration that something is not, or has not been, or will not be; denial; -- the opposite of affirmation.
Our assertions and negations should be yea and nay.
Rogers.
2. Logic
Description or definition by denial, exclusion, or exception; statement of what a thing is not, or has not, from which may be inferred what it is or has.
© Webster 1913.