Definition of possitive
1. positive [ a ] characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance or certainty etc.
Examples:
"a positive attitude"
"the reviews were all positive"
"a positive benefit"
"a positive demand"
("Editorials"...)
What is interesting is that his positive qualifications for the post were revealed only as a kind of tail to his candidacy .
(William G. Pollard, Physicist and Christian....)
The concept of unity , in which positive and negative are attributes of the same force , in which good and evil are relative , ever-changing , and always joined to the same phenomenon - such a concept is still reserved to the physical_sciences and to the few who have grasped the history of ideas .
(Schubert Ogden, Christ Without Myth....)
Modern man , as Dietrich_Bonhoeffer has told us , has `` come_of_age '' ; and though this process by_no_means represents an unambiguous gain and is , in_fact , marked by the estrangement from the depths that seems to be the cost of human maturation , it is still a positive step forward ; and those of us who so richly benefit from it should be the last to despise it .
(Harry H. Hull, "The Normal Forces and Their Ther...)
Two of the fluids showed a high positive normal pressure when undergoing shear , and two showed small negative pressures which were negligible in_comparison_with the amount of the positive pressures generated by the other two .
Two of the fluids showed a high positive normal pressure when undergoing shear , and two showed small negative pressures which were negligible in_comparison_with the amount of the positive pressures generated by the other two .
Synonyms positive Related Terms negative neutral enthusiastic affirmative constructive constructive supportive optimistic affirmative quality2. positive [ a ] involving advantage or good
Examples:
"a plus (or positive) factor"
(William C. Smith, "Why Fear Ideas?"...)
Debate rid us of McCarthy but did not give us much that is positive .
Synonyms positive plus Related Terms advantageous3. positive [ a ] (medicine) indicating existence or presence of a suspected condition or pathogen
Examples:
"a positive pregnancy test"
(Brainard Cheney, "Christianity and the Tragic Vision-Ut...)
In 1952 , it will be remembered , the G._O._P. without positive program campaigned on the popular disillusionment with liberal leadership and won overwhelmingly .
Synonyms positive confirming Related Terms negative medicine4. positive [ a ] having a positive electric charge
Examples:
"protons are positive"
(Harry H. Hull, "The Normal Forces and Their Ther...)
Figure 3 shows the data on a silicone fluid , labeled 12500 cps which gave a high positive normal pressure .
Synonyms positive electropositive Related Terms neutral negative polarity5. positive [ a ] impossible to deny or disprove
Examples:
"incontrovertible proof of the defendant's innocence"
"proof positive"
"an irrefutable argument"
(The Rev. John A. O'Brien, "Let's Take Birth Control...)
An action once universally condemned by all Christian_churches and forbidden by the civil_law is now not_only approved by the overwhelming majority of Protestant_denominations , but also deemed , at certain times , to be a positive religious duty .
Synonyms positive irrefutable incontrovertible Related Terms undeniable6. positive [ a ] formally laid down or imposed
Examples:
"positive laws"
(J. H. Hexter, "Thomas More: On the Margins...)
He is a trustee for the common good , however feeble the safeguards which the positive or municipal law of property provides against his misuse of that share of the common fund , wisely or unwisely , entrusted to his keeping .
Synonyms positive prescribed Related Terms formal7. positive [ a ] (mathematics) greater than zero
Examples:
"positive numbers"
8. positive [ a ] marked by excessive confidence
Examples:
"an arrogant and cocksure materialist"
"so overconfident and impudent as to speak to the queen"
"the less he knows the more positive he gets"
9. positive [ a ] persuaded of; very sure
Examples:
"were convinced that it would be to their advantage to join"
"I am positive he is lying"
"was confident he would win"
(Nathan Rapport, ""I've Been Here before!"...)
I can n't tell when , but I'm positive I witnessed this same scene of this particular gathering at some time in the past '' !
He was almost positive it was not Assyrian nor Cassite , and imagined it must have been German or English .
Synonyms positive confident convinced Related Terms certain10. positive [ a ] of or relating to positivism
Examples:
"positivist thinkers"
"positivist doctrine"
"positive philosophy"
11. positive [ a ] granting what has been desired or requested
Examples:
"a favorable reply"
"a positive answer"
12. positive [ n ] a film showing a photographic image whose tones correspond to those of the original subject
Synonyms positive Related Terms film slideSimilar Spelling
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