Here's how we can decipher it:
* "Negate" means to deny or make something invalid.
* The sentence implies that if you "negate" (deny or invalidate) the speaker's answer, it should be considered untrue.
* This suggests that "negate" is related to the concept of "not" or "denial."
The Latin root "neg" means "not" or "deny." It is the root of many English words such as:
* Neglect: To pay no attention to.
* Negative: Expressing denial or refusal.
* Negligible: So small as to be of no importance.
Therefore, by analyzing the context and meaning of "negate," we can identify the Latin root word "neg" as the source of its meaning.