Dictum de Nullo expresses what about universal denial?

• A. What is affirmed universally of a term is affirmed of every term under it
• B. What is denied universally of a term is denied of every term under it
• C. What is affirmed of some terms is affirmed of all terms
• D. What is denied of some terms is denied of all terms

Answer: (B)

The key idea is the downward inheritance of universal denial. Dictum de nullo says that if a term is denied of something universally, that denial extends to every term included under it. So, if no dogs are cats, then no poodles are cats, because a poodle falls under the broader term of dogs, and the denial carries to all subterms. This captures the sense that universal denial of a broad class implies the same denial for any narrower class within that broad class. The other options would shift focus to affirmation or to denials of some terms, which isn’t what this maxim addresses.