negation

n. [ L. negatio, fr. negare to say no, to deny; ne not + the root of aio I say; cf. Gr. &unr_;, Skr. ah to say; cf. F. négation. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our assertions and negations should be yea and nay. Rogers. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]