Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Negative, -yve, -ywe, a. [Late ME. negatyff (c 1400), e.m.E. negatyve (1509), -ive, F. négatif, -ive (13th c.) or late L. negātīv-us.] a. Of an answer: That expresses denial or refusal. b. Characterized by denial rather than affirmation. (Chiefly the Negative Confession, the ‘King's Confession’ or Second Confession of Faith (1580–1), which denied various items of Catholic doctrine.) —a. 1535 Stewart 38327.
Malcolme … Wald nocht consent … And gaif to him ane ansuer negatiue Ib. 51838.
With ansuer negatywe 1559 St. A. Kirk S. i.
But negatyve ansuer to be gevyne indifferentlie to all strangerb. 1581 Hamilton in Cath. Tr. 105/8.
Quha not onlie knappis suddrone in your Negatiue Confession bot also hes causit it be imprentit at London [etc.] Ib. 104/29. c 1590 Ib. 247 (Title).
Ane schort Catholik confession … answering against the heretical Negative Confession set furth be Jhone Craig in his Catechise 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. in Ib. 235/10.
Thay mon also renunce ane vther article of thair negatiue faith detestand indulgencis ? 1638 Drummond II. 207/2.
The King a negative voice most justly hath Since the Kirk hath found out a negative faith