Adjacent Words

Positive definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

POS'ITIVE, a. [Low L. positivus.]
1. Properly, set; laid down; expressed; direct; explicit; opposed to implied; as, he told us in positive words; we have his positive declaration to the fact; the testimony is positive.
2. Absolute; express; not admitting any condition or discretion. The commands of the admiral are positive.
3. Absolute; real; existing in fact; opposed to negative, as positive good, which exists by itself, whereas negative good is merely the absence of evil; or opposed to relative or arbitrary, as beauty is not a positive thing, but depends on the different tastes of people.
4. Direct; express; opposed to circumstantial; as positive proof.
5. Confident; fully assured; applied to persons. The witness is very positive that he is correct in his testimony.
6. Dogmatic; over-confident in opinion or assertion.
Some positive persisting fops we know,
That, if once wrong, will needs be always so.
7. Settled by arbitrary appointment; opposed to natural or inbred.
In laws, that which is natural, bindeth universally; that which is positive, not so.
Although no laws but positive are mutable, yet all are not mutable which are positive.
8. Having power to act directly; as a positive voice in legislation.
Positive degree, in grammar, is the state of an adjective which denotes simple or absolute quality, without comparison or relation to increase or diminution; as wise, noble.
Positive electricity, according to Dr. Franklin, consists in a superabundance of the fluid in a substance. Others suppose it to consist in a tendency of the fluid outwards. It is not certain in what consists the difference between positive and negative electricity. Positive electricity being produced by rubbing glass, is called the vitreous; negative electricity, produced by rubbing amber or resin, is called the resinous.
POS'ITIVE, n. What is capable of being affirmed; reality.
1. That which settles by absolute appointment.
2. In grammar, a word that affirms or asserts existence.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance or certainty etc.; "a positive attitude"; "the reviews were all positive"; "a positive benefit"; "a positive demand" [ant: negative, neutral]
2: persuaded of; very sure; "were convinced that it would be to their advantage to join"; "I am positive he is lying"; "was confident he would win" [syn: convinced, positive, confident]
3: involving advantage or good; "a plus (or positive) factor" [syn: plus, positive]
4: indicating existence or presence of a suspected condition or pathogen; "a positive pregnancy test" [syn: positive, confirming] [ant: disconfirming, negative]
5: formally laid down or imposed; "positive laws" [syn: positive, prescribed]
6: impossible to deny or disprove; "incontrovertible proof of the defendant's innocence"; "proof positive"; "an irrefutable argument" [syn: incontrovertible, irrefutable, positive]
7: of or relating to positivism; "positivist thinkers"; "positivist doctrine"; "positive philosophy" [syn: positivist, positivistic, positive]
8: reckoned, situated or tending in the direction which naturally or arbitrarily is taken to indicate increase or progress or onward motion; "positive increase in graduating students" [ant: negative]
9: greater than zero; "positive numbers"
10: having a positive charge; "protons are positive" [syn: positive, electropositive, positively charged]
11: marked by excessive confidence; "an arrogant and cocksure materialist"; "so overconfident and impudent as to speak to the queen"; "the less he knows the more positive he gets" [syn: cocksure, overconfident, positive] n
1: the primary form of an adjective or adverb; denotes a quality without qualification, comparison, or relation to increase or diminution [syn: positive, positive degree]
2: a film showing a photographic image whose tones correspond to those of the original subject

Merriam Webster's

I. adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin positivus, from positus, past participle of ponere Date: 14th century 1. a. formally laid down or imposed ; prescribed <positive laws> b. expressed clearly or peremptorily <her answer was a positive no> c. fully assured ; confident <positive it was her book> 2. a. of, relating to, or constituting the degree of comparison that is expressed in English by the unmodified and uninflected form of an adjective or adverb and denotes no increase or diminution b. (1) independent of changing circumstances ; unconditioned <an insurance policy with positive coverage> (2) relating to or constituting a motion or device that is definite, unyielding, constant, or certain in its action <a positive system of levers> c. (1) incontestable <positive proof> (2) unqualified <a positive disgrace> 3. a. not fictitious ; real <positive social tensions> b. active and effective in social or economic function rather than merely maintaining peace and order <a positive government> 4. a. indicating, relating to, or characterized by affirmation, addition, inclusion, or presence rather than negation, withholding, or absence <took the positive approach and struck a new deal rather than canceling the contract> b. having rendition of light and shade similar in tone to the tones of the original subject <a positive photographic image> c. contributing toward or characterized by increase or progression <take some positive action> <positive cash flow> d. directed or moving toward a source of stimulation <a positive taxis> e. real and numerically greater than zero <+2 is a positive integer> 5. a. (1) being, relating to, or charged with electricity of which the proton is the elementary unit and which predominates in a glass body after being rubbed with silk (2) having more protons than electrons <a positive ion> b. (1) having higher electric potential and constituting the part from which the current flows to the external circuit <the positive terminal of a discharging storage battery> (2) being an electron-collecting electrode of an electron tube 6. a. marked by or indicating acceptance, approval, or affirmation <received a positive response> b. affirming the presence especially of a condition, substance, or organism suspected to be present <a positive test for blood>; also having a test result indicating the presence especially of a condition, substance, or organism <HIV positive> 7. of a lens converging light rays and forming a real inverted image 8. a. having a good effect ; favorable <a positive role model> b. marked by optimism <the positive point of view> Synonyms: see sure • positively adverb • positiveness noun II. noun Date: 1530 something positive: as a. (1) the positive degree of comparison in a language (2) a positive form of an adjective or adverb b. something of which an affirmation can be made ; reality c. a positive photograph or a print from a negative d. a positive result (as of a test); also a test yielding such a result

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. & n. --adj. 1 formally or explicitly stated; definite, unquestionable (positive proof). 2 (of a person) convinced, confident, or overconfident in his or her opinion (positive that I was not there). 3 a absolute; not relative. b Gram. (of an adjective or adverb) expressing a simple quality without comparison (cf. COMPARATIVE, SUPERLATIVE). 4 colloq. downright; complete (it would be a positive miracle). 5 constructive; directional (positive criticism; positive thinking). 6 marked by the presence rather than absence of qualities or Med. symptoms (a positive reaction to the plan; the test was positive). 7 esp. Philos. dealing only with matters of fact; practical (cf. POSITIVISM 1). 8 tending in a direction naturally or arbitrarily taken as that of increase or progress (clockwise rotation is positive). 9 greater than zero (positive and negative integers) (opp. NEGATIVE). 10 Electr. of, containing, or producing the kind of electrical charge produced by rubbing glass with silk; an absence of electrons. 11 (of a photographic image) showing lights and shades or colours true to the original (opp. NEGATIVE). --n. a positive adjective, photograph, quantity, etc. Phrases and idioms: positive discrimination the practice of making distinctions in favour of groups considered to be underprivileged. positive feedback 1 a constructive response to an experiment, questionnaire, etc. 2 Electronics the return of part of an output signal to the input, tending to increase the amplification etc. positive geotropism see GEOTROPISM. positive pole the north-seeking pole. positive ray Physics a canal ray. positive sign = plus sign. positive vetting Brit. an exhaustive inquiry into the background and character of a candidate for a post in the Civil Service that involves access to secret material. Derivatives: positively adv. positiveness n. positivity n. Etymology: ME f. OF positif -ive or L positivus (as POSIT)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Law of Charles (Physics), the law that the volume of a given mass of gas increases or decreases, by a definite fraction of its value for a given rise or fall of temperature; -- sometimes less correctly styled Gay Lussac's law, or Dalton's law. Law of nations. See International law, under International. Law of nature. (a) A broad generalization expressive of the constant action, or effect, of natural conditions; as, death is a law of nature; self-defense is a law of nature. See Law, 4. (b) A term denoting the standard, or system, of morality deducible from a study of the nature and natural relations of human beings independent of supernatural revelation or of municipal and social usages. Law of the land, due process of law; the general law of the land. Laws of honor. See under Honor. Laws of motion (Physics), three laws defined by Sir Isaac Newton: (1) Every body perseveres in its state of rest or of moving uniformly in a straight line, except so far as it is made to change that state by external force. (2) Change of motion is proportional to the impressed force, and takes place in the direction in which the force is impressed. (3) Reaction is always equal and opposite to action, that is to say, the actions of two bodies upon each other are always equal and in opposite directions. Marine law, or Maritime law, the law of the sea; a branch of the law merchant relating to the affairs of the sea, such as seamen, ships, shipping, navigation, and the like. --Bouvier. Mariotte's law. See Boyle's law (above). Martial law.See under Martial. Military law, a branch of the general municipal law, consisting of rules ordained for the government of the military force of a state in peace and war, and administered in courts martial. --Kent. Warren's Blackstone. Moral law,the law of duty as regards what is right and wrong in the sight of God; specifically, the ten commandments given by Moses. See Law, 2. Mosaic, or Ceremonial, law. (Script.) See Law, 3. Municipal, or Positive, law, a rule prescribed by the supreme power of a state, declaring some right, enforcing some duty, or prohibiting some act; -- distinguished from international and constitutional law. See Law, 1. Periodic law. (Chem.) See under Periodic. Roman law, the system of principles and laws found in the codes and treatises of the lawmakers and jurists of ancient Rome, and incorporated more or less into the laws of the several European countries and colonies founded by them. See Civil law (above). Statute law, the law as stated in statutes or positive enactments of the legislative body. Sumptuary law. See under Sumptuary. To go to law, to seek a settlement of any matter by bringing it before the courts of law; to sue or prosecute some one. To take, or have, the law of, to bring the law to bear upon; as, to take the law of one's neighbor. --Addison. Wager of law. See under Wager. Syn: Justice; equity. Usage: Law, Statute, Common law, Regulation, Edict, Decree. Law is generic, and, when used with reference to, or in connection with, the other words here considered, denotes whatever is commanded by one who has a right to require obedience. A statute is a particular law drawn out in form, and distinctly enacted and proclaimed. Common law is a rule of action founded on long usage and the decisions of courts of justice. A regulation is a limited and often, temporary law, intended to secure some particular end or object. An edict is a command or law issued by a sovereign, and is peculiar to a despotic government. A decree is a permanent order either of a court or of the executive government. See Justice.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Positive Pos"i*tive, a. 1. (Mach. & Mech.) (a) Designating, or pertaining to, a motion or device in which the movement derived from a driver, or the grip or hold of a restraining piece, is communicated through an unyielding intermediate piece or pieces; as, a claw clutch is a positive clutch, while a friction clutch is not. (b) Designating, or pertaining to, a device giving a to-and-fro motion; as, a positive dobby.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Demonstration Dem`on*stra"tion, n. [L. demonstratio: cf. F. d['e]monstration.] 1. The act of demonstrating; an exhibition; proof; especially, proof beyond the possibility of doubt; indubitable evidence, to the senses or reason. Those intervening ideas which serve to show the agreement of any two others are called ``proofs;'' and where agreement or disagreement is by this means plainly and clearly perceived, it is called demonstration. --Locke. 2. An expression, as of the feelings, by outward signs; a manifestation; a show. Did your letters pierce the queen to any demonstration of grief? --Shak. Loyal demonstrations toward the prince. --Prescott. 3. (Anat.) The exhibition and explanation of a dissection or other anatomical preparation. 4. (Mil.) a decisive exhibition of force, or a movement indicating an attack. 5. (Logic) The act of proving by the syllogistic process, or the proof itself. 6. (Math.) A course of reasoning showing that a certain result is a necessary consequence of assumed premises; -- these premises being definitions, axioms, and previously established propositions. Direct, or Positive, demonstration (Logic & Math.), one in which the correct conclusion is the immediate sequence of reasoning from axiomatic or established premises; -- opposed to Indirect, or Negative, demonstration (called also reductio ad absurdum), in which the correct conclusion is an inference from the demonstration that any other hypothesis must be incorrect.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Positive Pos"i*tive, n. 1. That which is capable of being affirmed; reality. --South. 2. That which settles by absolute appointment. 3. (Gram.) The positive degree or form. 4. (Photog.) A picture in which the lights and shades correspond in position with those of the original, instead of being reversed, as in a negative. --R. Hunt. 5. (Elec.) The positive plate of a voltaic or electrolytic cell.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Positive Pos"i*tive, a. [OE. positif, F. positif, L. positivus. See Position.] 1. Having a real position, existence, or energy; existing in fact; real; actual; -- opposed to negative. ``Positive good.'' --Bacon. 2. Derived from an object by itself; not dependent on changing circumstances or relations; absolute; -- opposed to relative; as, the idea of beauty is not positive, but depends on the different tastes individuals. 3. Definitely laid down; explicitly stated; clearly expressed; -- opposed to implied; as, a positive declaration or promise. Positive words, that he would not bear arms against King Edward's son. --Bacon. 4. Hence: Not admitting of any doubt, condition, qualification, or discretion; not dependent on circumstances or probabilities; not speculative; compelling assent or obedience; peremptory; indisputable; decisive; as, positive instructions; positive truth; positive proof. ``'T is positive 'gainst all exceptions.'' --Shak. 5. Prescribed by express enactment or institution; settled by arbitrary appointment; said of laws. In laws, that which is natural bindeth universally; that which is positive, not so. --Hooker. 6. Fully assured; confident; certain; sometimes, overconfident; dogmatic; overbearing; -- said of persons. Some positive, persisting fops we know, That, if once wrong, will needs be always. --Pope. 7. Having the power of direct action or influence; as, a positive voice in legislation. --Swift. 8. (Photog.) Corresponding with the original in respect to the position of lights and shades, instead of having the lights and shades reversed; as, a positive picture. 9. (Chem.) (a) Electro-positive. (b) Hence, basic; metallic; not acid; -- opposed to negative, and said of metals, bases, and basic radicals. Positive crystals (Opt.), a doubly refracting crystal in which the index of refraction for the extraordinary ray is greater than for the ordinary ray, and the former is refracted nearer to the axis than the latter, as quartz and ice; -- opposed to negative crystal, or one in which this characteristic is reversed, as Iceland spar, tourmaline, etc. Positive degree (Gram.), that state of an adjective or adverb which denotes simple quality, without comparison or relation to increase or diminution; as, wise, noble. Positive electricity (Elec), the kind of electricity which is developed when glass is rubbed with silk, or which appears at that pole of a voltaic battery attached to the plate that is not attacked by the exciting liquid; -- formerly called vitreous electricity; -- opposed to negative electricity. Positive eyepiece. See under Eyepiece. Positive law. See Municipal law, under Law. Positive motion (Mach.), motion which is derived from a driver through unyielding intermediate pieces, or by direct contact, and not through elastic connections, nor by means of friction, gravity, etc.; definite motion. Positive philosophy. See Positivism. Positive pole. (a) (Elec.) The pole of a battery or pile which yields positive or vitreous electricity; -- opposed to negative pole. (b) (Magnetism) The north pole. [R.] Positive quantity (Alg.), an affirmative quantity, or one affected by the sign plus [+]. Positive rotation (Mech.), left-handed rotation. Positive sign (Math.), the sign [+] denoting plus, or more, or addition.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. If you are positive about things, you are hopeful and confident, and think of the good aspects of a situation rather than the bad ones. Be positive about your future and get on with living a normal life... ...a positive frame of mind. ? negative ADJ: usu v-link ADJ, oft ADJ about n • positively You really must try to start thinking positively. ADV: ADV after v 2. A positive fact, situation, or experience is pleasant and helpful to you in some way. The parting from his sister had a positive effect on John... ? negative ADJ: usu ADJ n • The positive in a situation is the good and pleasant aspects of it. Work on the positive, creating beautiful, loving and fulfilling relationships. ? negative N-SING: the N 3. If you make a positive decision or take positive action, you do something definite in order to deal with a task or problem. Having a good diet gives me a sense that I'm doing something positive and that I'm in control. ADJ: usu ADJ n 4. A positive response to something indicates agreement, approval, or encouragement. There's been a positive response to the UN Secretary-General's recent peace efforts. ? negative ADJ: usu ADJ n • positively He responded positively and accepted the fee of £1000 I had offered. ADV: ADV after v 5. If you are positive about something, you are completely sure about it. I'm as positive as I can be about it... 'She's never late. You sure she said eight?'—'Positive.' ADJ: v-link ADJ 6. Positive evidence gives definite proof of the truth or identity of something. There was no positive evidence that any birth defects had arisen as a result of Vitamin A intake. = conclusive ADJ: ADJ n • positively He has positively identified the body as that of his wife. ADV: ADV with v 7. If a medical or scientific test is positive, it shows that something has happened or is present. If the test is positive, a course of antibiotics may be prescribed... He was stripped of his Olympic Hundred Metres gold medal after testing positive for steroids. ? negative HIV positive: see HIV ADJ 8. A positive number is greater than zero. It's really a simple numbers game with negative and positive numbers. ? negative ADJ: ADJ n 9. If something has a positive electrical charge, it has the same charge as a proton and the opposite charge to an electron. (TECHNICAL) ? negative ADJ: usu ADJ n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

a. 1. Express, direct, explicit, determinate, defined, precise, definite, clear, unequivocal, unmistakable, categorical, expressed, laid down. 2. Real, actual, veritable, substantial, true, absolute, existing in fact. 3. Absolute, not relative. 4. Confident, sure, assured, certain, fully convinced. 5. Indisputable, decisive, incontrovertible, indubitable. 6. Decisive, unconditional, imperative. 7. Dogmatic, stubborn, peremptory, obstinate, over-confident, tenacious, overbearing.

Moby Thesaurus

Ditto copy, Photostat, Xerox, Xerox copy, absolute, accented, accentuated, accordant, actual, admitting no exception, affirmative, affirmatory, agreeable, agreeing, aidful, algorismic, algorithmic, aliquot, all-out, answerable, apodictic, arbitrary, arrant, arrogant, assertative, assertional, assertive, assured, at one, auspicious, authentic, believing, beneficial, bigoted, blind, blowup, blueprint, bound, cardinal, categorical, certain, cheerful, classical, clear, clear and distinct, clear as day, clear-cut, cocksure, coexistent, coexisting, coherent, coincident, coinciding, commensurate, compatible, complete, complimentary, conceited, conclusive, concordant, concurring, conducive, confident, confirming, conformable, congenial, congruent, congruous, consentaneous, consentient, consistent, consonant, constructive, consummate, contact print, contact printing, contributory, convinced, convincing, cooperating, cooperative, correspondent, corresponding, crass, cyanotype, de facto, deaf, decided, decimal, decisive, declarative, declaratory, definite, definitive, despotic, determinate, determined, devout, dictatorial, differential, digital, doctrinaire, doctrinarian, dogmatic, dogmatizing, doubtless, downright, egregious, emphasized, emphatic, en rapport, encouraging, energetic, enlargement, enthusiastic, entire, equivalent, even, explicit, exponential, express, factual, faithful, favorable, fideistic, figural, figurate, figurative, final, finite, firm, fixed, flagrant, flat, flat-out, for real, forceful, forcible, fractional, functional, furthersome, genuine, glaring, global, glossy, good for, gross, hard, hard-nosed, harmonious, hectograph copy, helpful, historical, hologram, honest-to-God, hubristic, imaginary, impair, imperious, implicit, impossible, impress, impressed with, impression, in accord, in agreement, in rapport, in red letters, in sync, in synchronization, inaccordance, inappealable, incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, indubitable, ineluctable, inevitable, infinite, inharmony, integral, intolerable, irrational, irrefutable, italicized, lantern slide, like-minded, logarithmic, logometric, matte, matter-of-fact, microcopy, microprint, mimeograph copy, minus, necessary, negative, numeral, numerary, numerative, numeric, obdurate, obstinate, odd, of a piece, of like mind, of one mind, offprint, on all fours, opinionated, opinionative, opinioned, optimistic, oracular, ordinal, out-and-out, outright, overconfident, oversure, overweening, pair, peremptory, perfect, perfectly sure, persuaded, persuasive, photocopy, photograph, photogravure, photostatic copy, pietistic, pigheaded, pious, pistic, plus, pointed, poised, pompous, pontifical, positivistic, possible, practical, pragmatical, precious, predestined, predetermined, predicational, predicative, prime, print, productive, profitable, profound, projection printing, promising, pronounced, pronunciative, proof, proper, propitious, proportionate, proud, punctuated, radical, rank, rational, real, realistic, reasonable, reassured, reassuring, reciprocal, reconcilable, regular, reliable, remedial, reprint, round, salutary, satisfied, secure, self-assured, self-confident, self-consistent, self-important, self-opinionated, self-opinioned, self-reliant, semi-matte, serviceable, shattering, sheer, shocking, slide, sold on, sound, specific, stark, stark-staring, starred, stat, straight, straight-out, stressed, stubborn, submultiple, substantial, superlative, supportive, surd, sure, sure-enough, surpassing, symbiotic, synchronized, synchronous, the veriest, therapeutic, thorough, thoroughgoing, total, transcendental, transparency, true, unafraid, unambiguous, unanimous, unbearable, uncircumscribed, unconditional, unconditioned, unconscionable, uncontestable, uncontested, undeniable, under the impression, underlined, underscored, undoubtful, undoubting, unequivocal, unfaltering, unhampered, unhesitating, uniform, unisonant, unisonous, univocal, unlimited, unmistakable, unmitigated, unpersuadable, unqualified, unquestionable, unquestioned, unquestioning, unrelieved, unreserved, unrestricted, unspoiled, unwaivable, unwavering, upbeat, useful, utilitarian, utter, veritable, whole, without exception, without reserve, yes