Word Meanings - POSITIVE - Book Publishers vocabulary database

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. Electro-positive. Hence, basic; metallic; not acid; -- opposed to negative, and

Additional info about word: POSITIVE

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. Electro-positive. Hence, basic; metallic; not acid; -- opposed to negative, and said of metals, bases, and basic radicals. Positive crystals , 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 , that state of an adjective or adverb which denotes simple quality, without comparison or relation to increase or diminution; as, wise, noble. -- Positive electricity , 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 Ant: negative electricity. -- Positive eyepiece. See under Eyepiece. -- Positive law. See Municipal law, under Law. -- Positive motion , 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. The pole of a battery or pile which yields positive or vitreous electricity; -- opposed to Ant: negative pole. The north pole. -- Positive quantity , an affirmative quantity, or one affected by the sign plus -- Positive rotation , left-handed rotation. -- Positive sign , the sign denoting plus, or more, or addition. (more info) 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.

Possible synonyms: (Same meaning words of POSITIVE)

• Actual
• Developed
• positive
• unquestionable
• demonstrable
• certain
• real
• authentic
• Categorical
• Plain
• declaratory
• peremptory
• affirmative
• absolute
• demonstrative
• distinct
• Certain
• true
• fixed
• regular
• established
• incontrovertible
• undoubtful
• indubitable
• infallible
• unmistakable
• sure
• unfailing
• actual
• undeniable
• convinced
• assured
• Conclusive
• Definitive
• indisputable
• final
• decisive
• Definite
• Clear
• specified
• determined
• definitive
• restricted
• specific
• ascertained
• precise
• exact
• limited
• bounded

Related words: (words related to POSITIVE)

• SPECIFICNESS
  The quality or state of being specific.
• CONCLUSIVELY
  In the way of conclusion; decisively; positively. Burke.
• ASSURER
  1. One who assures. Specifically: One who insures against loss; an insurer or underwriter. 2. One who takes out a life assurance policy.
• BOUNDLESS
  Without bounds or confines; illimitable; vast; unlimited. "The boundless sky." Bryant. "The boundless ocean." Dryden. "Boundless rapacity." "Boundless prospect of gain." Macaulay. Syn. -- Unlimited; unconfined; immeasurable; illimitable; infinite.
• DISTINCTNESS
  1. The quality or state of being distinct; a separation or difference that prevents confusion of parts or things. The soul's . . . distinctness from the body. Cudworth. 2. Nice discrimination; hence, clearness; precision; as, he stated
• CONVINCIBLE
  1. Capable of being convinced or won over. 2. Capable of being confuted and disproved by argument; refutable. Sir T. Browne.
• CLEARLY
  In a clear manner.
• INDISPUTABLE
  Not disputable; incontrovertible; too evident to admit of dispute. Syn. -- Incontestable; unquestionable; incontrovertible; undeniable; irrefragable; certain; positive; undoubted; sure; infallible. -- In*dis"pu*ta*ble*ness, n. -- In*dis"pu*ta*bly,
• AUTHENTICITY
  1. The quality of being authentic or of established authority for truth and correctness. 2. Genuineness; the quality of being genuine or not corrupted from the original. Note: In later writers, especially those on the evidences of Christianity,
• REGULARITY
  The condition or quality of being regular; as, regularity of outline; the regularity of motion.
• UNMISTAKABLE
  Incapable of being mistaken or misunderstood; clear; plain; obvious; evident. -- Un`mis*tak"a*bly, adv.
• CONCLUSIVENESS
  The quality of being conclusive; decisiveness.
• ASCERTAINMENT
  The act of ascertaining; a reducing to certainty; a finding out by investigation; discovery. The positive ascertainment of its limits. Burke.
• AFFIRMATIVELY
  In an affirmative manner; on the affirmative side of a question; in the affirmative; -- opposed to negatively.
• EXACTOR
  One who exacts or demands by authority or right; hence, an extortioner; also, one unreasonably severe in injunctions or demands. Jer. Taylor.
• ASCERTAINABLE
  That may be ascertained. -- As`cer*tain"a*ble*ness, n. -- As`cer*tain"a*bly, adv.
• ACTUALIZE
  To make actual; to realize in action. Coleridge.
• EXACTING
  Oppressive or unreasonably severe in making demands or requiring the exact fulfillment of obligations; harsh; severe. "A temper so exacting." T. Arnold -- Ex*act"ing*ly, adv. -- Ex*act"ing*ness, n.
• LIMITARIAN
  Tending to limit.
• LIMITIVE
  Involving a limit; as, a limitive law, one designed to limit existing powers.
• HOME-BOUND
  Kept at home.
• OUTBOUND
  Outward bound. Dryden.
• REFIX
  To fix again or anew; to establish anew. Fuller.
• INEXACTLY
  In a manner not exact or precise; inaccurately. R. A. Proctor.
• CONTRADISTINCT
  Distinguished by opposite qualities. J. Goodwin.
• IRREGULARITY
  The state or quality of being irregular; that which is irregular.
• UNLIMITED
  1. Not limited; having no bounds; boundless; as, an unlimited expanse of ocean. 2. Undefined; indefinite; not bounded by proper exceptions; as, unlimited terms. "Nothing doth more prevail than unlimited generalities." Hooker. 3. Unconfined; not
• AFFIX
  figere to fasten: cf. OE. affichen, F. afficher, ultimately fr. L. 1. To subjoin, annex, or add at the close or end; to append to; to fix to any part of; as, to affix a syllable to a word; to affix a seal to an instrument; to affix one's name to
• UNDISTINCTLY
  Indistinctly.
• UNBOUND
  imp. & p. p. of Unbind.