different between passively vs negatively

English

Etymology

From passive +? -ly.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /?pæs.?v.li/

Adverb

passively (not comparable)

1. In a passive manner; without conscious or self-directed action.
   • 2000, Brian D. Wisenden, "Scents of Danger", in Animal Signals: signalling and signal design in animal communication, page 369

     Water flowed passively between tanks via the siphon.

   • 2007, Klaus Dieter Budras, et al., Anatomy of the Dog, page 188

     Due to this pressure aortic and pulmonary valves are opened passively and due to relaxation blood is sucked from the venae cavae into the atrium.

2. In an acquiescent manner; resignedly or submissively.
   • 1997, Gary A. Olson, Todd W. Taylor, Publishing in Rhetoric and Composition, page 218

     Paradoxically, the same faculty who complain about busyness are most likely to end up waiting passively. While they acquiescently wait to write, they busy themselves with other, often trivial, activities.

   • 1998, Wallace Collins, Dragon Fire, page 9

     They were not waving at him but sat passively as if waiting to hear if what he had to say would be derogatory to their previous relationship.

3. (grammar) In the passive voice; having a passive construction.
   • 2008, Timothy J. Conlan, Alice M. Rivlin, & Paul L. Posner, Intergovernmental Management for the Twenty-first Century, page 214

     Statements phrased in an active voice, with a few outcome-oriented goals, improve school performance more than those stated passively with either multiple goals or goals focused on processes or behaviors.

Synonyms

• (in a passive manner): automatically, mindlessly
• (in an acquiescent manner): resignedly, submissively

Related terms

Translations

English

Etymology

negative +? -ly

Pronunciation

Adverb

negatively (comparative more negatively, superlative most negatively)

1. In a negative manner; so as to be damaging or not positive.
   • 1644, John Milton, The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce, London, Chapter 3, p. 38,^[1]

     How justly then might human law and Philosophy rise up against the righteousnesse of Moses, if this be true which our vulgar Divinity Fathers upon him, yeah upon God himselfe; not silently and only negatively to permit, but in his law to divulge a written and generall priviledge to commit and persist in unlawfull divorces with a high hand, with security and no ill fame […]

   • 1722, Daniel Defoe, Moll Flanders, London: J. Cooke, 1765, p. 17,^[2]

     At last one of them asked me what a Gentlewoman was? that puzzled me much; but however, I explained myself negatively; that it was one that did not go to Service to do Housework […]

   • 1776, Thomas Paine, Common Sense, Philadelphia, 6th edition, p. 5,^[3]

     Society is produced by our wants, and government by our wickedness; the former promotes our happiness positively, by uniting our affections; the latter negatively, by restraining our vices.

   • 1859, Charles Dickens, The Uncommercial Traveller, London: Chapman & Hall, 1905, Chapter 1, p. 1,^[4]

     Allow me to introduce myself—first, negatively. ¶ No landlord is my friend and brother, no chambermaid loves me, no waiter worships me, no boots admires and envies me.

   • 1997, John E. Chubb, “Too much of a good thing,” Time, 2 June, 1997,^[5]

     Having the entire summer off from school negatively affects learning.

   • 2009, Mark Sweney and James Robinson, “Not all regions like to hear their own accents in ads, survey finds,” The Guardian, 13 May, 2009,^[6]

     Tynesiders appear to be proud of their accents, according to the findings, but Brummies responded negatively to hearing their vowels on TV and radio, partly because they recognise they are ridiculed for them by some of their compatriots.

2. (responding to a question, proposal, vote, etc.) In the negative; with the answer “no.”
   • 1683, Richard Browne (translator), The Cure of Old Age and Preservation of Youth by Roger Bacon, London: Tho. Flesher, Doubt VII, p. 83,^[7]

     I answer negatively:

   • 1851, Herman Melville, Moby-Dick, Chapter 128,^[8]

     Throttling his joy, Ahab negatively answered this unexpected question […]

   • 1935, “Season’s End,” Time, 8 April, 1935,^[9]

     Twelve States now in the affirmative column at one time or another in the past voted negatively.

   • 1983, Reuters, “Iran rebuffs Iraq on sparing civilians,” New York Times, 27 May, 1983,^[10]

     Iran responded negatively today to a proposal by Iraq that the two countries agree to stop shelling each other’s towns and villages.

Antonyms

• (in a negative manner): positively
• (in the negative): affirmatively

Related terms

• negative

Translations

Anagrams

• agentively