All 4 Uses of
negative
in
In Cold Blood
- "Are you a drinking man?" was the first question he asked a job applicant, and even though the fellow gave a negative answer, he still must sign a work contract containing a clause that declared the agreement instantly void if the employee should be discovered "harboring alcohol."
Chpt 1 (definition 1)negative = indicating an answer of "no"
- "You pursue the negative," Willie-Jay had informed him once, in one of his lectures.†
Chpt 1 *
- A negative grunt.
Chpt 3 (definition 1) *negative = indicating an answer of "no"
- [of the lie-detector or polygraph test] The results of the test, to the dismay of Osprey's sheriff as well as Alvin Dewey, who does not believe in exceptional coincidences, were decisively negative.
Chpt 4 (definition 2) *negative = indicating that a condition was not found to be present
Definitions:
-
(1) (negative as in: negative feedback from customers) to express criticism or disagreement, or (especially when talking over a radio or in a military setting) to say "no"
-
(2) (negative as in: The test came back negative.) did not find a condition or substance to be present
-
(negative as in: had a negative effect) bad or harmful