Regular law of negative in modern English.
But, under the influence of Latin syntax, the usual way of regarding the question now is, that two negatives are equivalent to an affirmative, denying each other.
Therefore, if two negatives are found together, it is a sign of ignorance or carelessness, or else a purpose to make an affirmative effect. In the latter case, one of the negatives is often a prefix; as infrequent, uncommon.
Exercise.
Tell whether the two or more negatives are properly used in each of the following sentences, and why:—
1. The red men were not so infrequent visitors of the English settlements.—Hawthorne.
2. "Huldy was so up to everything about the house, that the doctor didn't miss nothin' in a temporal way."—Mrs. Stowe.
3. Her younger sister was a wide-awake girl, who hadn't been to school for nothing.—Holmes.
4. You will find no battle which does not exhibit the most cautious circumspection.—Bayne.
5. Not only could man not acquire such information, but ought not to labor after it.—Grote.