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A Writer's Dictionary:

positive Definition


Dictionary Home » Words Starting with P » Portuguese man-of-war ... postman's knock » positive


positive
adj
    1. Sure; certain; convinced.
    2. Definite; allowing no doubt.
      Example: positive proof of her guilt
      Thesaurus: certain, definite, sure, undeniable, irrefutable, indisputable, conclusive, clear-cut, unmitigated, incontestable, incontrovertible, real, actual, decisive; Antonym: indefinite, uncertain.
    3. Expressing agreement or approval.
      Example: a positive response
    4. Optimistic.
      Example: feeling more positive
    5. Forceful or determined; not tentative.
      Thesaurus: assertive, forceful, emphatic, dogmatic, resolute, confident, uncompromising, peremptory, authoritative, arrant, direct, assured, cocksure; Antonym: indecisive, uncertain.
    6. Constructive; contributing to progress or improvement; helpful.
      Thesaurus: good, beneficial, helpful, constructive, useful, favourable, advantageous, wholesome, rewarding; Antonym: detrimental, harmful, useless.
    7. Clear and explicit.
      Example: positive directions
    8. colloq
      Downright.
      Example: a positive scandal
    9. Said of the result of a chemical test: confirming the existence of the suspected condition.
    10. math.
      Said of a number or quantity: greater than zero.
    11. physics.elec.
      Having a deficiency of electrons, and so being able to attract them, ie attracted by a negative charge.
    12. photog.
      Said of a photographic image: in which light and dark tones and colours correspond to those in the original subject.
    13. grammar.
Derivative: positively
    In a forceful or determined way.
      Thesaurus: boldly, firmly, assertively, stubbornly, obstinately, confidently, peremptorily, emphatically, authoritatively, uncompromisingly, dogmatically, decidedly, absolutely, insistently, unhesitatingly.
    Without a doubt; definitely
      Thesaurus: surely, definitely, certainly, undoubtedly, conclusively, unmistakably, undeniably, unequivocally, unquestionably, expressly, categorically, assuredly, incontestably, incontrovertibly.
Etymology: 14c: from French positif, positive, or Latin positivus, from ponere to place.



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