I.perf. subj. negāssim for negaverim, Plaut. As. 2, 4, 96.—Lengthened collat. form negumo : negumate in carmine Cn. Marci vatis significat negate, Paul. ex Fest. p. 165 Müll.; cf. Herm. Doct. Metr. p. 614), v. n. and a. [for ne-igo, ne and ajo, q. v.], to say no, to deny, refuse (opp. ajo, to say yes; v. ajo; cf.: abnuo, diffiteor, infitior).
I. In gen.: vel ai, vel nega, say yes or no, Naev. ap. Prisc. p. 473 P.: “vel tu mihi aias vel neges,” Plaut. Rud. 2, 4, 14: “negat quis? nego. Ait? aio,” Ter. Eun. 2, 2, 21: “Diogenes ait, Antipater negat,” Cic. Off. 3, 23, 91: “quasi ego id curem, quid ille aiat aut neget,” id. Fin. 2, 22, 70: “quia nunc aiunt, quod tunc negabant,” id. Rab. Post. 12, 35.— With acc. and inf., to say or affirm that not, to deny that, etc.: “Demosthenes negat, in eo positas esse fortunas Graeciae, hoc, etc.,” Cic. Or. 8 fin.: “Stoici negant quidquam esse bonum, nisi quod honestum sit,” id. Fin. 2, 21, 68; id. de Or. 3, 14, 54: “nego, ullam picturam fuisse, quin abstulerit,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 1, § 1; Caes. B. G. 6, 31.—With quoniam (eccl. Lat.): “negat quoniam Jesus est Christus,” Vulg. 1 Joann. 2, 22.—Sometimes two propositions depend upon nego, with the latter of which an affirmative verb (dico, etc.) is to be supplied: “plerique negant Caesarem in condicione mansurum: postulataque haec ab eo interposita esse, etc.,” Cic. Att. 7, 15, 3: “negabat cessandum et utique prius confligendum,” Liv. 35, 1: “ille negat se Numidam pertimescere, virtuti suorum credere,” Sall. J. 106, 3; Vell. 2, 118, 5; Ter. Phorm. 2, 3, 6.—Sometimes another negation follows, which, however, does not destroy the first: “negat nec suspicari,” Cic. Ac. 1, 2, 7: “negato esse nec mu, nec mutuum,” Plaut. Stich. 1, 3, 101: “tu autem te negas infracto remo, neque columbae collo, commoveri,” Cic. Ac. 2, 25, 79.—
(β).
Pass. with inf., they say I am not, etc.: “casta negor (sc. esse),” Ov. F. 4, 321: “saepe domi non es, cum sis quoque saepe negaris,” Mart. 2, 5, 5: “ex eo negantur ibi ranae coaxare,” Suet. Aug. 94: “ciconiae pullum qui ederit, negatur annis continuis lippiturus,” Plin. 29, 6, 38, § 128.—
II. In partic.
A. To deny a thing; “factum est: non nego,” Ter. Ad. 5, 3, 12; “opp. fateri,” Cic. Brut. 19, 76: “sed posthac omnia, quae certa non erunt, pro certo negato,” id. Att. 5, 21, 5: “negaturum aut me pro M. Fulvio, aut ipsum M. Fulvium censetis?” Liv. 38, 43: “negando minuendove,” Suet. Caes. 66: “mitto enim domestica, quae negari possunt,” i. e. the proof of which can be suppressed, Cic. Pis. 5, 11: “videant servi ne quis neget,” Juv. 10, 87.— With quin: “negare non posse, quin rectius sit, etc.,” Liv. 40, 36: “quod si negari non potest, quin, etc.,” Lact. 5, 23 init.—
B. To deny, refuse: quicquam quisquam cuiquam, quod ei conveniat, neget, Enn. ap. Auct. Her. 4, 12, 18 (Trag. v. 448 Vahl.): “numquam reo cuiquam tam praecise negavi, quam hic mihi,” Cic. Att. 8, 4, 2: “postquam id obstinate sibi negari videt,” Caes. B. G. 5, 6: “alicui impune negare,” Ov. M. 13, 741: “patriae opem,” id. H. 3, 96: “miseris,” id. Tr. 5, 8, 13: “civitatem alicui,” Suet. Aug. 40: “non ego me vinclis verberibusque nego,” Tib. 2, 3, 80; Luc. 8, 3: “exstingui primordia tanta negabam,” Sil. 9, 532: “neque enim negare tibi quidquam potest,” Vulg. 3 Reg. 2, 17.—
b. Se, to refuse (ante class.): “obsecrat, Ut sibi ejus faciat copiam: illa enim se negat,” Ter. Phorm. 1, 2, 63; id. Hec. 1, 2, 45.—
2. Transf., of inanim. things (poet.): “poma negat regio,” i. e. does not yield, produce, Ov. Tr. 3, 10, 73: “nec mihi materiam bellatrix Roma negabat,” id. ib. 2, 321: “pars ventis vela negare,” i. e. to furl the sails, Ov. M. 11, 487: “si dextra neget,” Stat. Th. 6, 553: “saxa negantia ferro,” opposing, id. Silv. 3, 1: “illi membra negant,” his limbs fail him, id. Th. 2, 668.—
D. To deny any knowledge of, to reject (with acc. of persons; “eccl. Lat.): negaverunt Dominum,” Vulg. Jer. 5, 12: “qui me negaverit,” ib. Matt. 10, 33: Christum negantes, ib. Judae, 4.
