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单词 positive
释义

positiveadj.n.

Brit. /ˈpɒzᵻtɪv/, U.S. /ˈpɑzədɪv/, /ˈpɑztɪv/
Forms: Middle English posatyue, Middle English posetyve, Middle English positife, Middle English positijf, Middle English posityf, Middle English posityfe, Middle English posityue, Middle English posytyf, Middle English posytyfe, Middle English 1800s positif, Middle English–1600s positiue, Middle English–1600s possitiue, Middle English– positive, 1500s posetyfe, 1500s posytive, 1500s posytyue, 1500s posytyve, 1600s–1800s possitive; Scottish pre-1700 poesatiue, pre-1700 positife, pre-1700 positiue, pre-1700 possitive, pre-1700 1700s– positive.
Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly a borrowing from Latin. Etymons: French positif; Latin positīvus.
Etymology: < Anglo-Norman and Middle French positif, French positif (adjective) formally laid down, imposed, or decreed, conventional (originally with reference to law) (early 13th cent. in Anglo-Norman), certain, real (beginning of the 14th cent. in Old French), (noun) positive degree of an adjective or adverb (14th cent.), large pipe organ which must be placed upon the floor when played (1547), secondary division in some large church organs (1680) and its etymon classical Latin positīvus arbitrarily imposed, in post-classical Latin also (in grammar) primary (4th cent.: compare sense A. 12), (in logic) positive (frequently c1160–1620 in British sources), and as noun positivus positive degree of an adjective or adverb (5th cent.), positivum adjective or adverb in the positive degree (6th cent.) < posit- , past participial stem of pōnere to place, put, lay down (see ponent n. and adj.1) + -īvus -ive suffix. Compare Old Occitan positiu (c1350 or earlier), Catalan positiu (13th cent.), Spanish positivo (adjective) formally laid down, conventional (c1310 or earlier, originally in legal use), real, concrete (1437 or earlier), (noun) positive degree of an adjective or adverb (1492), Portuguese positivo (1540), Italian positivo (first half of the 14th cent.). The French adjective is first attested later than the English word in the majority of more recent senses, e.g. (of a mathematical quantity or number) greater than zero (1751), designating that form of electricity which is produced by rubbing glass with silk (1752), (of an electric pole) possessing positive charge (1806), (of a visual image) showing the lights and shades as seen in the original (1842 or earlier). With many of the spec. senses below compare also the corresponding spec. senses at negative adj., negative n.With positive law n. at sense A. 1 compare post-classical Latin ius positivum (c1200, a1520 in British sources), lex positiva (1344, a1408 in British sources), Anglo-Norman lei positive (early 13th cent. or earlier), Middle French, French loi positive (1365). In sense A. 4c(b) short for HIV-positive adj. at HIV n. Compounds 2. In philosophical use in sense A. 14a after Italian positivo (1590 in the passage translated in quot. 1594 at sense A. 14a); compare Spanish positivo (1578 in the passage translated in quot. 1594 at sense A. 14a). Compare French positif (of a scientific discipline) founded on experience and observation of facts (1749), philosophie positive (1813 in C.-H. de Saint-Simon Mémoire sur la science de l'homme, also 1830 in A. Comte Cours de philosophie positive I.). Compare also later positivism n. 2.
A. adj.
I. Senses relating to the manner in which statements are made, rules imposed, etc.
1. Formally laid down, imposed, or decreed; proceeding from enactment or custom; conventional. Originally and chiefly in positive law n. (in political and legal philosophy, ethics, and theology) a law or body of laws artificially instituted or imposed by an authority, often as contrasted with natural law rooted in the requirements of justice and right reason (cf. natural law n.).
ΘΚΠ
society > law > branch of the law > [noun] > positive as opposed to natural
positive lawc1385
law of setnessa1400
society > law > branch of the law > [adjective] > specific
setc1200
positivec1385
naturalc1390
directive1610
distributive1651
directory1692
substantive lawa1832
naturel1856
natural law1934
the world > existence and causation > creation > [adjective] > created or produced > contrived, artificial, or put together
positivec1385
artificial?c1425
craftlya1492
wroughta1500
preparated1569
made1580
elaborate1583
elaborate1592
elaborated1596
handmade1603
arted1606
factitiousa1624
made-up1677
fictitious1686
man-madea1718
got-up1793
gotten-up1796
canned1878
artefact1909
prefabricated1935
c1385 G. Chaucer Knight's Tale 1167 Positif lawe and swich decree Is broke al day for loue in ech degree.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iii. 172 (MED) Sche..is Maistresse In kinde and techeth every lif Withoute lawe positif, Of which sche takth nomaner charge.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 9433 Þe first lagh was kald ‘o kind’..þe toþer has ‘positiue’ [c1460 Laud posetyve; a1400 Gött. possitiue] to nam.
c1443 R. Pecock Reule of Crysten Religioun (1927) 254 (MED) We ouȝte obeie to þee..forto performe and fulfille þi voluntarie positive lawis or assignementis beyng bisidis lawe of kinde.
1467–8 Rolls of Parl. V. 622/2 All the Lawes of the world..resteth in thre..the Lawe of God, Lawe of nature, and posityfe Lawe.
c1500 Castle of Love (Ashm.) (1967) 122 (MED) In paradys Adam had two lawys..The naturall and þe posytyfe.
1594 W. Clerke Triall of Bastardie (title page) A Table of the Leuitical, English, and Positiue Canon Catalogues.
1644 J. Bulwer Chirologia 3 Habits of the Hand are purely naturall, not positive.
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan ii. 148 Again, of Positive Laws some are Humane, some Divine: And of Humane positive lawes, some are Distributive, some Penal.
1705 W. Forbes Treat. Church-lands & Tithes 289 The true Characteristick of Parsonage is, that it was introduc'd by positive Law, and is the same in all places.
c1760 W. Warburton Unpubl. Papers (1841) 273 The question is..whether the observation of the Sabbath was a natural or positive duty?
1799 C. Lamb John Woodvil 111 Having a law within... He cannot..be bound by any Positive laws or ordinances extern.
1842 H. J. Stephen New Comm. Laws Eng. II. 95 In the reign of Queen Anne it [sc. copyright] became..the subject of positive regulation.
1883 J. M. Lightwood (title) The nature of positive law.
1902 A. M. Fairbairn Philos. Christian Relig. iii. i. iv. 5 Positive is public law, proclaimed and upheld by some public authority... Founded religions are by the very necessities of their origin positive.
1967 Encycl. Philos. V. 451/1 The ideal or ethical law, which is contrasted with positive law..is regarded by natural-law theorists..as grounded in something..more enduring than the mere practical needs of men.
1994 Judicature Mar. 247/1 The dialogue between the court and legislature in considering the constitutionality of legislation is codified in positive law.
2. Explicitly laid down; expressed without qualification; admitting no question; stated, express, definite, precise; emphatic; †objectively certain (obsolete). Now chiefly in proof positive n. at proof n. 1a.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > [adjective]
wislyc1000
sickera1225
firm1377
unfailingc1400
decided1439
suredc1450
sure1470
infirmat1487
delivered1499
fast and sure1528
undeceivablea1535
undoubteda1535
certainc1540
true (also good, sure) as touch1590
constant1611
positivea1616
square1632
formal1635
unapocryphal1644
inconditional1646
inconditionate1654
undeceitful1673
unshakeable1677
unproblematic1683
unprecarious1688
unerring1697
safe1788
hard1791
unproblematical1792
decisive1800
dead-on1889
hands down1900
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry V (1623) iv. ii. 25 'Tis positiue against all exceptions, Lords, That our superfluous Lacquies, and our Pesants, Who in vnnecessarie action swarme About our Squares of Battaile, were enow To purge this field of such a hilding Foe.
1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. ix. 197 To..give in his positive answer to the following Articles.
1670 C. Cotton tr. G. Girard Hist. Life Duke of Espernon ii. vii. 311 [They] resolv'd in the end upon a positive night, wherein with four Companies of Swisse to surprize him in his own house.
1709 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. Nov. (1965) I. 19 Positive orders oblige us to go to-morrow.
1784 H. L. Thrale Diary 7 June in Thraliana (1942) I. 595 I will not come home alone—that's positive.
1799 J. Robertson Gen. View Agric. Perth 437 A positive rotation of crops need not be prescribed in the lease, except to an ignorant peasantry.
1810 G. Morris in J. Sparks Life G. Morris (1832) III. 254 Positive assertion is not always polite.
1827 T. Jarman Powell's Ess. Learning of Devises (ed. 3) II. 7 An express and positive devise cannot be controlled by the reason assigned, nor by inference and argument from the other parts of the will.
1867 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest I. App. 637 A strong presumption, though it is by no means positive proof.
1939 Cue 11 Mar. 41/2 Eberlin's claims to be the birthplace of the Gin Daisy, the Jack Rose, and the Jersey Lily; but proof positive is lost somewhere in the mists of time.
1960 J. Lees-Milne Baroque in Spain & Portugal ii. i. 144 The Manoeline style..has a very positive bearing upon the last phase of Portuguese Baroque, or to be more precise, the Rococo.
1988 Times 6 Jan. 1/3 We have proof positive that we are ready to lead the industry into the 21st century.
3. Of a person: confident in opinion or assertion; convinced, assured, very sure. Formerly also occasionally: †overconfident, opinionated, dogmatic (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > expressed belief, opinion > extreme opinion, dogmatism > [adjective]
high?1535
Arctic1593
magistral1596
forward1608
confident1611
magisterial1635
pragmatic1638
high-flown1640
affirmative1650
thetical1653
positive1658
pragmatical1660
dogmatical1662
dogmatic1681
unargumentative1722
ultra1820
doctrinaire1834
cocksure1842
doctrinary1846
unevidential1853
Doctrinarian1878
pontificating1922
fundamentalist1928
hardcore1951
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > [adjective]
sickerc1100
bolda1300
surec1330
trist1340
certain1362
traista1400
tresta1400
ensurec1430
suredc1450
absolute1483
firm1483
resolute1501
assured1523
satisfied1533
unperplexed1558
unblanked1570
resolved1577
secure1578
clear1604
constant1611
ungravelled1611
confidenta1616
definitea1616
fearless1634
decretory1651
positive1658
unbrangled1671
cocksure1672
convinced1685
reliant1702
unbewildereda1807
positivistic1893
hensure1929
tooting1932
1658 Mercurius Politicus No. 445. 51 The Court imagined it the best way to talk big and threaten, and be more positive than heretofore.
1665 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 1 105 He is pretty positive that..no rational Account can be given.
1689 J. Chetham Angler's Vade Mecum (ed. 2) iv. 46 Having never experienced them for these Fish, I dare not be positive.
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 253. ¶7 Those Criticks who write in a positive Dogmatick Way.
1732 G. Berkeley Alciphron I. iii. xiv. 195 He is positive as to the Being of God.
1782 W. Cowper Conversation in Poems 219 Where men of judgment creep and feel their way, The Positive pronounce without dismay.
1845 J. Lingard Hist. & Antiq. Anglo-Saxon Church (ed. 3) I. i. 10 Ussher is positive that the..visit..occurred.
1875 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) I. 265 Nor is Socrates positive of anything but the duty of enquiry.
1879 M. E. Braddon Cloven Foot II. i. 16 Are you sure?.. Pretty positive.
1907 J. Conrad Secret Agent vii. 192 As far as one can be positive about anything I can assure you that it is not.
1973 E. Caldwell Annette (1974) i. iii. 20 Annette was positive that Doan was truly in love with her..and she had no doubt that he would make every effort to please her.
2000 I. Pattison Stranger here Myself (2001) iii. 111 ‘I'd say, oh, ten hours. Twelve hours tops,’ he said. ‘You sure?’ ‘Positive,’ said Cotter.
II. Senses opposed to negative.
4.
a. Consisting in, characterized by, or expressing the presence or possession of a feature or quality, rather than its absence; of an affirmative nature.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > [adjective]
goodOE
winlyOE
snella1000
winc1275
boonc1325
cleana1375
tidya1375
positivea1398
comelyc1400
kindc1400
kindly?a1425
well-formeda1425
trim?a1513
wally?a1513
bonnya1525
delicatea1533
goodlike1562
sappy1563
bein1567
rum1567
benedict1576
warrantable1581
true (also good, sure) as touch1590
goodlisomea1603
respectable1603
clever1738
amusing1753
plummy1787
bone1793
brickish1843
mooi1850
ryebuck1859
spandy1868
greatisha1871
healthy1878
popular1884
beefy1903
onkus1910
quies1919
cushty1929
high-powered1969
not shabby1975
the world > existence and causation > existence > intrinsicality or inherence > [adjective] > having a certain quality or qualities
positivea1398
tachedc1400
facedc1525
arsed1542
qualitied1567
qualified1590
propertieda1616
qualitated1662
city1946
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 9v Nounes adiectiue tokeneþ somwhat positif affirmynge [L. adiectiua nomina quae aliquid connotant positiue], for somme tokeneth þerwith effect in creatures and somme respect.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 316 Posityf sauour is y-cleped vnsauory [L. positiue dicitur sapor insipidus], þat is nouȝt y-knowe by þe witte of taste passyng þe firste gree.
1590 W. Clever Flower of Phisicke 38 A positiue operation to conserue a strong estate in nature.
1618 E. Elton Complaint Sanctified Sinner xiii. 456 The corruption of nature..is a positiue thing, and hath a reall being.
1643 W. Prynne Soveraigne Power Parl. iv. App. 130 Here all the kings of the Israelites..are strictly bound by God himself to negative and positive conditions.
1726 Bp. J. Butler 15 Serm. vi. 101 Ease from Misery occasioning for some time the greatest positive Enjoyment.
1794 J. Hutton Diss. Philos. Light 134 Cold is an element as positive as heat; for, cold in bodies is the negative of heat, as much as heat is the negative of cold.
1838 A. De Morgan Ess. Probabilities 122 The exceptions are forgotten;..it is the character of negative events to lay less firmly hold of the mind than positive ones.
1858 O. W. Holmes Autocrat of Breakfast-table viii. 212 There are blondes who are such simply by deficiency of coloring matter,—negative or washed blondes... There are others that are shot through with golden light, with tawny or fulvous tinges in various degree,—positive or stained blondes, dipped in yellow sunbeams.
1867 A. Barry Life & Wks. Sir C. Barry vi. 185 Relieved by positive colour.
1930 H. Crane Let. 22 May (1965) 351 The poem [sc. The Bridge]..is, I think, an affirmation of experience, and to that extent is ‘positive’ rather than ‘negative’ in the sense that The Waste Land is negative.
b. Logic. Of a term, etc.: denoting the presence or possession of a quality, rather than its absence or lack.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > other grammatical categories or concepts > [adjective] > expressing negation > not
positive1725
1725 I. Watts Logick i. iv. 78 Terms are either positive or negative.
1877 E. R. Conder Basis of Faith ii. 66 Negative forms of speech and thought are continually employed to express positive ideas. ‘Discord’, ‘disunion’, ‘anarchy’, have a very positive meaning.
1908 G. H. Joyce Princ. Logic ii. §9 31 As examples of Positive terms, we may take ‘living’, ‘present’, ‘equal’; and as examples of Negative terms ‘lifeless’, ‘absent’, ‘unequal’, ‘not-man’, ‘nonentity’.
1970 Mind 79 4 In the classical standpoint terms are given in contrary pairs; it is not assumed that we have first one positive term P primitively given and then a negative term Q defined by means of it.
c.
(a) Of evidence, an experiment, the results of a test, etc.: providing support for a particular hypothesis, esp. one concerning the presence or existence of something; indicating the presence or existence of a specified substance, condition, etc. Hence, of the subject of a test: exhibiting evidence of the presence of a specified substance or condition.Also used postpositively in more or less fixed collocations, e.g. in antibody-, Gram-, rhesus-positive, etc.: see the first element.
ΚΠ
1789 J. Priestley in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 79 15 The positive evidence of actually finding a substance is always more conclusive than the negative one, of not finding it.
1832 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 122 262 The only positive result which I have obtained on the passage of the electricity of the torpedo through air, has been by using a chain as a substitute for a wire of communication.
1890 J. Cagney tr. R. von Jaksch Clin. Diagnosis viii. 305 The maltose employed in this research gave Trommer's reaction only very faintly... When it acted upon the secretion at 40°C., both Trommer's and Nylander's tests gave positive results.
1931 J. F. Petors & D. D. Van Slyke Quantitative Clin. Chem. I. ii. 192 The observation of a positive copper reduction test for sugar in the urine justifies suspicion of diabetes, but not a final diagnosis.
1946 Nature 5 Oct. 486/2 It was decided to find out if the test would give positive results only with rabbit anti-human serum.
2015 N.Y. Times 22 Apr. (Late ed.) b10/3 Three pitchers on major league rosters tested positive for the..steroid stanozolol.
(b) spec. = HIV-positive adj. at HIV n. Compounds 2.
ΚΠ
1986 M. Conant in L. McKusick What to do about AIDS iii. 27 Women contemplating pregnancy need to consider whether they are positive or negative.
2006 Advocate 20 June 30/3 Research published in April showed that most gay men who are positive didn't mind when others found out.
2017 Nairobi News (Nexis) 14 Nov. ARVs [sc. antiretroviral drugs]..can both keep the positive partner healthier for longer, and reduce the risk they will pass the virus to their loved one.
d. Consisting in or characterized by constructive action or attitudes; inclined to hope for the best or to ‘look on the bright side’, optimistic; good, beneficial, advantageous. See positive thinking n. at Compounds.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > [adjective] > auxiliary or subsidiary > contributing helpfully
constructive1841
positive1916
1886 Chester (Pa.) Times 17 May A firm and positive attitude, if we mistake not, is the only one which will be approved by the people.
1897 New Era (Humeston, Iowa) 7 Apr. The mastery of self is the end of true living, and this mastery is shown, not in the negative attitude, by the things we do not do, but by that mental power that compels the mind to the positive attitude.
1916 D. Snedden in School & Society 16 Sept. 420/2 Some of us began using the word ‘project’ to describe a unit of educative work in which the most prominent feature was some form of positive and concrete achievement.
1938 D. Anrias Man & Zodiac vii. 82 Virgos are often witty but seldom positive.
1971 Times 15 Feb. 9/3 Ireland were the more positive side throughout and the same XV has been chosen for the game against Scotland.
1976 M. Millar Ask for me Tomorrow (1977) xvi. 132 Please try to take a more positive attitude.
1989 Japan Times 15 May 7/4 Syria does not disregard the positive elements in the policies of President Mubarak.
1999 in A. Hadley Tough Choices 38 The last three years have been really hard, but I'm a positive person and I know I can make something of my life.
5. Of liberty, freedom, etc.: facilitating personal development or self-realization; characterized by the empowerment of individuals to fulfil their potential, rather than simply by the absence of constraint. Frequently contrasted with negative adj. 6a.In quot. 1657 with reference to the empowerment and enrichment of the soul when freed from the body after death.
ΚΠ
1657 E. Hyde Christian Legacy ii. ii. 173 A privative liberty, not to be enthralled in bondage, a Heathen could see in Death: But a good Christian may farther see also a positive liberty, To have his soul and his spirit enlarged.
1852 M. E. Lazarus Zend-Avesta 132 There is not only a negative liberty or non-interference on delicate points,..a higher degree of positive liberty or passional and industrial expansion; (forces excited and passions satisfied,) seems to have been reached.
1869 Jrnl. Speculative Philos. 3 140 For we cannot obtain knowledge of positive freedom—as distinguished from negative freedom which is merely an independence of determinations of nature..—in any immediate manner.
1880 Princeton Rev. July–Dec. 376 Negative freedom is consistent with mere lawlessness and could not account for the fact of obligation. But positive freedom presupposes law.
1958 I. Berlin Two Concepts Liberty 15 It is in this difference that the great contrast between the two concepts of negative and positive liberty..consists.
1989 Wall St. Jrnl. 3 May a16/6 A struggle between ‘negative liberty’ (the right of Americans to be protected against interference by government) and ‘positive liberty’ (the right to use government for the protection and expansion of individual rights).
2002 A. Feenberg Transforming Technol. (rev. ed.) i. 18 Can one go beyond proceduralism without courting the dangers of a positive concept of freedom?
6. Of a quantity: greater than zero; to be added to another quantity, or taken as indicating an addition to zero; marked by the plus sign. Also in extended use.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > mathematical number or quantity > [adjective] > prime > positive, negative, or unsigned
affirmative?1665
negative1669
negativo-affirmative1728
positive1743
signless1847
signed1871
unsigned1953
1685 J. Hawkins Cocker's Decimal Arithm. iii. 217 The first figure of every logarithme..sheweth the Nature of the number by it signified, viz. whether it be positive, or negative.
1704 J. Harris Lexicon Technicum I Positive Quantities in Algebra, are such as are of a Real and Affirmative Nature, and either have, or are supposed to have the Affirmative or Positive Sign + before them.
1743 W. Emerson Doctr. Fluxions 74 λ is any positive whole Number greater than 0.
1827 O. Gregory Hutton's Course Math. (ed. 9) I. 167 When a quantity is found without a sign, it is understood to be positive, or have the sign + prefixed.
1865 E. B. Tylor Res. Early Hist. Mankind i. 2 Cases in which the result of progress has not been positive in adding, but negative in taking away.
1910 Encycl. Brit. I. 618/2 Cardan..was familiar with both real positive and negative roots of equations whether rational or irrational, but of imaginary roots he was quite ignorant.
1948 Proc. Symp. Large-scale Digital Calculating Machinery 1947 34 The PM line carries no pulse for a positive number and nine pulses for a negative number.
1988 Which? Dec. 564/2 What's on offer—budget account which currently pays 3.8% net on positive balances.
7. Proceeding, occurring, or reckoned in a direction taken as that of increase or of progress; (Physiology) moving or responding in a direction towards a stimulus.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > [adjective] > moving in positive direction
positive1743
the world > space > direction > [adjective] > right, proper, or good (of direction)
right1567
positive1873
1743 B. Martin Course Lect. Nat. & Exper. Philos. 83 As Twice the Distance of the Object is lesser or greater than the Radius, so the Focus will be positive or negative, that is, behind the Glass or before it.
1873 J. C. Maxwell Treat. Electr. & Magnetism I. 24 If the actual rotation of the earth from west to east is taken positive.
1875 A. W. Bennett & W. T. T. Dyer tr. J. von Sachs Text-bk. Bot. 677 Its negative heliotropism is..only a special case of positive heliotropism.
1893 R. S. Ball Story of Sun 170 The angle between the pole projected on the Sun's disc and the north point..is reckoned as positive if it lies towards the left, that is, to the east.
1939 E. D. Laborde tr. E. de Martonne Shorter Physical Geogr. (rev. ed.) xvii. 258 To reproduce as faithfully as this all the outlines of irregular surface-relief, the coastline must have been formed not long ago by a considerable positive movement.
1956 C. A. Culver Mus. Acoustics (ed. 4) i. 11 It is customary to think of the displacement to the right of the median position as positive, and that to the left..as negative.
1974 M. C. Gerald Pharmacol. v. 87 We observe that a stem bends toward a light source, a response termed positive phototropism.
1990 A. G. Champion & A. R. Townsend Contemp. Brit.: Geogr. Perspective (BNC) 53 15 of the 20 areas saw a positive movement in [population] growth rate against the national trend.
1991 Struct. Change & Econ. Dynamics 2 168 They would expand without limit either monotonically in the positive or negative direction, or fluctuate with increasing amplitude between the positive or negative domain.
8.
a. Originally (now historical): designating that form of electricity which is produced by rubbing glass with silk (cf. vitreous adj. 3) and was formerly believed to be due to an excess of a subtle fluid permeating all bodies. Now more generally: designating electric charge having the same polarity as that electrode of a cell, battery, etc., from which the current is conventionally held to flow (and towards which the actual flow of electrons occurs); designating the kind of electric charge associated with the proton and atomic nucleus.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > [adjective] > relating to electricity generated by friction
resinous1734
positive1747
negative1755
statical1829
static1838
triboelectric1917
1747 B. Franklin Let. 28 July in I. B. Cohen B. Franklin's Exper. (1942) 182 If the bottle had a positive electrical atmosphere, as well as the wire, an electrified cork would be repelled from one as well as the other.
1771 Philos. Trans. 1770 (Royal Soc.) 60 197 The result was invariably the same, whether they and the rod were loaded with positive or negative electricity.
1812 H. Davy Elements Chem. Philos. 127 The terms negative and positive electricity have been likewise adopted on the idea that the phænomena depend upon a peculiar subtile fluid which becomes in excess in the vitreous and deficient in resinous bodies.
1839 Penny Cycl. XIV. 288/1 It will be easy to observe the analogy between the mutual relations of the two magnetisms [sc. Austral and Boreal], and those of positive with negative electricities.
1882 H. Watts Dict. Chem. II. 379 On turning the cylinder, the glass acquires positive electricity, the cushion and the brass conductor attached to it negative electricity, and the positive charge of the glass is transferred to the prime conductor.
1930 J. H. Jeans Universe around Us (ed. 2) ii. 111 The α-rays were found to consist of particles charged with positive electricity, and the β-rays to consist of particles charged with negative electricity.
1987 E. H. J. Pallett Aircraft Electr. Syst. (ed. 3) i. 14/2 A positive voltage is applied to the emitter of a p-n-p transistor so as to repel positively charged ‘holes’ in a forward direction.
b. Possessing or producing positive charge.
ΚΠ
1777 T. Cavallo Compl. Treat. Electr. iv. 26 If a Tourmalin be cut into several parts, each piece will have its positive and negative poles, corresponding to the positive and negative sides of the stone from which it was cut.
1812 H. Davy Elements Chem. Philos. 321 Oxygene will separate at the positive surface, and small metallic globules will appear at the negative surface.
1836–41 W. T. Brande Man. Chem. (ed. 5) 255 The conductor to which the cushion is attached is called the negative conductor; the other collects the electricity of the glass, and is called the positive conductor.
1876 W. H. Preece & J. Sivewright Telegraphy 12 The zinc is named the positive plate or element, the copper the negative plate or element.
1904 Westm. Gaz. 14 Dec. 10/2 The bare [rail] running down the centre of the track being the return or negative, and the protected one at the side the ‘live’ or positive rail.
1938 A. E. Clayton Performance & Design Direct Current Machines (ed. 2) i. 12 If rb is the ‘internal’ resistance of the battery, the current actually flowing out of the positive terminal of the battery is [etc.].
1993 New Scientist 31 July 25/1 A simple example is the electrolysis of water in which hydrogen is produced by reduction of protons (H+) at the negative electrode or ‘cathode’, and oxygen by oxidation of hydroxide ions (HO-) at the positive electrode or ‘anode’.
c. Chemistry. = electropositive adj. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > galvanism, voltaism > [adjective] > relating to poles > relating to positive pole
positive1808
zincopolar1842
zincous1842
1808 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 19 191 Oxygen and acids..are naturally negative; hydrogen and inflammable bodies, in general, and alkalies, positive.
1885 H. W. Watson & S. H. Burbury Math. Theory Electr. & Magn. I. 243 From 284° to 330° iron is positive to copper and negative to lead; above 330° lead is positive to copper and negative to iron.
1937 F. C. Whitmore Org. Chem. 724 The aniline sulfate solution contains the strongly positive group NH3 and consequently gives m-substitution.
2001 O. Sacks Uncle Tungsten xiv. 158 The degree of electropositivity among metals went with their chemical reactivity, hence their ability to reduce or replace less positive elements.
d. figurative.Cf. pole n.2 4.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > contrariety or contrast > [adjective] > polarized
positive1816
polarized1920
Marmite1994
1816 S. T. Coleridge Statesman's Man. 56 Of the positive pole, on the other hand, language to the following purport is the usual Exponent.
1834 T. Carlyle Sartor Resartus iii. x. 103/1 Drudgism the Negative, Dandyism the Positive: one attracts hourly towards it and appropriates all the Positive Electricity of the nation (namely, the Money thereof); the other is equally busy with the Negative (that is to say the Hunger).
1844 R. W. Emerson Ess. 2nd Ser. iii. 105 Everything in nature is bipolar, or has a positive and negative pole.
1902 W. James Varieties Relig. Experience xvi.–xvii Like Hegel in his logic, mystics journey towards the positive pole of truth only by the ‘Methode der absoluten Negativität’.
1999 Crit. Matrix (Nexis) 30 June I was literally electrified. With a positive pole which was fear, and a negative pole which was the discovery of sensations I had never suspected.
2004 National Rev. (Nexis) 17 Dec. Since the Coalition represented the negative pole, its motives, means, goals, and very presence were prejudged as suspect. In contrast, since the ‘Resistance’ reflected the positive pole, it received automatic validation.
e. Having the polarity of the earth's south magnetic pole; designating a north-seeking pole of a magnet.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > magnetism > magnetic devices or materials > [adjective] > polar > relating to north or south pole
positive1837
north polar1849
blue magnetism1865
1837 M. Somerville On Connexion Physical Sci. (ed. 4) xxix. 342 All the phenomena of magnetism like those of electricity may be explained on the hypothesis of one ethereal fluid, which is condensed or redundant in the positive pole, and deficient in the negative.
1873 J. C. Maxwell Treat. Electr. & Magn. (1881) II. 19–20 In speaking of a line of magnetic force we shall always suppose it to be traced from magnetic south to magnetic north, and shall call this direction positive. In the same way..the end of the magnet which points north is reckoned the positive end. We shall consider Austral magnetism, that is, the magnetism of that end of a magnet which points north, as positive.
1935 C. J. Smith Intermediate Physics (ed. 2) v. xxxix. 653 Such an arrangement may be regarded as a double magnet with the positive pole of one in contact with that of the other.
1992 S. P. Maran Astron. & Astrophysics Encycl. 630/1 The magnetic polarity (positive or negative) on the western side of the group they called preceding and that on the eastern side, following.
9. Optics. Of, relating to, or designating a crystal in which the index of refraction is greater for the extraordinary ray than for the ordinary ray.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > light > refraction > [adjective] > doubly refracting > in relation to index
positive1831
1831 D. Brewster Treat. Optics xvii. §90. 147 In some [crystals] the extraordinary ray is refracted towards the axis..while in others it is refracted from the axis. In the first case the axis is called a positive axis of double refraction.
1831 D. Brewster Treat. Optics xxii. 196 The positive crystals, such as zircon, ice, etc.
c1865 J. Wylde Circle of Sci. I. 79/2 Of some bodies possessing positive axes, we may mention quartz, ice, &c.; whilst Iceland spar.., prussiate of potass, &c., have negative axes.
1932 H. L. Brose tr. M. Planck Theory of Light ii. iv. 161 We shall now consider the passage of a plane monochromatic wave through a plane-parallel plate of a uniaxial positive crystal which is cut perpendicularly to the optic axis.
1958 Van Nostrand's Sci. Encycl. (ed. 3) 1292 Quartz is a positive crystal.
2003 Science (Nexis) 8 Aug. 812 An inorganic birefringent crystal that has a higher refractive index for light polarized along its longer axis than along its shorter axis is defined as a positive crystal, and the opposite one is defined as a negative crystal.
10.
a. Of a visual image, esp. a photograph: showing the lights and shades (and colour values) as seen in the original. Cf. negative adj. 10.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > a photograph > [adjective] > showing normal light and shade
positive1840
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > [adjective] > (retained) visual image
homonymous1881
idioretinal1890
positive1899
1840 J. F. W. Herschel in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 130 3 To avoid much circumlocution, it may be allowed me to employ the terms positive and negative, to express respectively, pictures in which the lights and shades are as in nature, or as in the original model, and in which they are the opposite, i.e. light representing shade, and shade light.
1841 W. H. F. Talbot Brit. Patent 8842 The portrait..is a negative one, and from this a positive copy may be obtained.
1859 T. J. Gullick & J. Timbs Painting 119 The artist works upon a very faint positive ‘impression’,..and entirely covers it with body colour, or equally opaque coloured crayons, with the express intention of concealing the tone of the photograph.
1899 L. Hill Man. Human Physiol. xxxv. 439 On waking in the morning in a dark room strike a match, and immediately blow it out; a positive after-image of the light persists for a moment and then gradually dies away.
1942 C. W. Miller Princ. Photogr. Reprod. 161 The process works best with those emulsions in which the amount of silver is adjusted particularly for this purpose, as in the familiar motion-picture positive film or the direct positive reversal papers.
1970 Amateur Photographer 11 Mar. 60/1 Ferrania T.14 positive film, stocked by the nine-five specialists, is a slow-speed, orthochromatic stock made for producing positive release prints from a negative.
1991 Portfolio Mag. Summer 13/1 These reproductions were used as paper negatives and contact printed in order to achieve that which Degas never saw, a pair of positive images.
b. Of, relating to, or designating a copy or likeness of an object with the same relief as that of the original (as opposed to the reverse relief possessed by a mould).
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > imitation > [adjective] > positive or negative impression of an object
negative1842
positive1911
1911 G. H. Wilson Man. Dental Prosthetics ii. 55 An impression is a negative likeness of an object or part taken in a plastic material, from which a cast or positive likeness may be produced.
1940 J. Osborne Dental Mech. i. 1 The technique necessary for the accurate construction of a model, or positive likeness of the patient's mouth, from an impression or negative likeness.
1985 Antiquaries Jrnl. June 435 Designs on thin plate could be built up from a number of small dies of individual features... They could be either positive or intaglio, and worked from the back or the front of the plate.
2001 Bangor (Maine) Daily News (Nexis) 16 Aug. c1 She combines intaglio, collagraph and monotype to form a pair of positive and negative images that are similar, but unique.
c. Sound Recording. Designating a disc made at an intermediate stage in the production of a gramophone record, bearing the same pattern of grooves as the final product.
ΚΠ
1931 A. Nadell Projecting Sound Pict. xiv. 240 This metal plate..constitutes a ‘negative’ with which any number of ‘positive’ records may be stamped.
1996 J. Borwick Sound Recording Pract. (ed. 4) i. 8 The lacquer disc is first sprayed with silver..and then put through a series of electroforming processes to produce..: (a) the Master (a negative, i.e. with ridges in place of grooves); (b) the Mother (a positive); (c) the Stamper (a negative) which is the moulding tool to be used in pressing out records from thermoplastic vinyl.
11. Virology and Molecular Biology. Designating or relating to a nucleic acid molecule, esp. viral genomic RNA, that has a base sequence identical (or exactly corresponding, in the case of DNA) to that of messenger RNA; = plus adj. 4. Also: designating or relating to an RNA virus containing a single strand of genomic RNA of this type. Esp. in positive sense, positive strand; positive-stranded adj.
ΚΠ
1975 Jrnl. Gen. Virol. 28 111 Three replicative forms of RNA (RF I, RF II, and RF III) have been isolated from BHK cells infected with Similiki Forest virus... The positive strand of RFI was 42S RNA.
1977 Jrnl. Virol. 24 662/1 With other positive-stranded RNA viruses, small proteins either are cleared from a polyprotein..or..from..structural proteins.
1989 Encycl. Brit. XXIX. 520/1 A distinctive large family of single-stranded RNA viruses is called Retroviridae: the RNA of these viruses is positive.
1995 Sci. Amer. Oct. 34/3 The RNA of these viruses is ‘negative stranded’—before it can be used to make viral proteins in an infected cell, it must be converted into a positive strand by an enzyme called RNA polymerase.
2001 New Scientist 13 Oct. (Inside Sci. section) 2/3 In some cases, viral DNA can be ambisense and possess positive and negative-sense portions.
III. Unqualified, absolute: not relative or comparative.
12. Grammar. Designating the primary degree of an adjective or adverb, which expresses simple quality without qualification; not comparative or superlative. Cf. sense B. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > other grammatical categories or concepts > [adjective] > degree of comparison > positive
positivec1434
c1434 J. Drury Eng. Writings in Speculum (1934) 9 79 Þe positif degre..be-tokenyth qualite or quantite with outyn makyng more or lesse & settyth þe grownd of alle oþere degreis of Comparison.
c1450 in D. Thomson Middle Eng. Grammatical Texts (1984) 17 Þe posityf degre..is ground of al oþer grees of comparison.
1568 W. Fulwood Enimie Idlenesse i. f. 1v Of superlatiue, comparatiue, positiue or diminutiue termes, we must vse but three at once at the most.
1591 R. Percyvall Bibliotheca Hispanica Gram. sig. B4 The comparatiue exceedeth the positiue.
1669 J. Milton Accedence 13 There be two degrees above the positive word it self, The Comparative, and Superlative.
1704 J. Harris Lexicon Technicum I Positive Degree of Comparison in Grammar, is that which signifies the Thing simply and absolutely, without comparing it with others; it belongs only to Adjectives.
1767 J. Clarke New Gram. Lat. Tongue (ed. 5) iv. 17 The Comparative in English is formed from the Positive Adjective, by adding the Termination er, or putting the Particle more before it.
1800 T. Hodson Accomplished Tutor I. i. §iv. 42 12th Phrase: when the quality of a subject is compared with that of another subject: the positive adjective having after it the conjunction as; the comparative the conjunction than; the superlative the preposition of.
1873 R. Morris Hist. Outl. Eng. Accidence §109 There are three degrees of comparison: the positive, high; the comparative, higher; the superlative, highest.
1930 Frederick (Maryland) Post 15 Jan. 4/2 The Positive degree is used when no comparison is made with any other noun or pronoun, except as to their class; it is expressed by the simple unchanged form of the adjective; it expresses a certain idea to an ordinary extent.
1990 Jerusalem Post (Nexis) 31 Aug. When you contemplate the pitfalls in the path of the student of English as a Second Language, you begin to feel ashamed at chortling quite so uninhibitedly at Hyman Kaplan when he tackles the positive, comparative and superlative forms of the adjective and comes up with ‘good, batter, high-cless’.
2003 Argus Leader (Sioux Falls, S. Dakota) (Nexis) 27 Jan. 3 d We were studying positive, comparative and superlative adjectives and, as usual, having a pretty hard time with it.
13.
a. That is fully or completely what is expressed by the noun, without reservation, equivocation, or qualification; that is intrinsically so, independently of any relation to or comparison with other things. Now usually colloquial as an intensifier preceding the noun: downright, utter; complete, perfect, absolute; veritable.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > non-relation > [adjective]
frenne1556
unlinked1587
untouching1602
positive1609
unrespectless1614
unrelating1655
inconnexive1660
unaccessory1664
unconcerned1668
extraneous1671
unrelative1700
unkindred1701
unrelated1701
unconnected1745
irrelate1845
unrelational1863
unakin1864
inconsequent1869
relationless1878
irrelated1886
disrelated1893
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adjective] > utter or absolute
shirea1225
purec1300
properc1380
plainc1395
cleana1400
fine?a1400
entirec1400
veryc1400
starka1425
utterc1430
utterlyc1440
merec1443
absolute1531
outright1532
cleara1535
bloodyc1540
unproachable1544
flat1553
downright1577
sheer1583
right-down?1586
single1590
peremptory1601
perfecta1616
downa1625
implicit1625
every way1628
blank1637
out-and-outa1642
errant1644
inaccessional1651
thorough-paced1651
even down1654
dead1660
double-dyed1667
through stitch1681
through-stitched1682
total1702
thoroughgoing1719
thorough-sped1730
regular1740
plumb1748
hollow1751
unextenuated1765
unmitigated1783
stick, stock, stone dead1796
positive1802
rank1809
heart-whole1823
skire1825
solid1830
fair1835
teetotal1840
bodacious1845
raw1856
literal1857
resounding1873
roaring1884
all out1893
fucking1893
pink1896
twenty-four carat1900
grand slam1915
stone1928
diabolical1933
fricking1937
righteous1940
fecking1952
raving1954
1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida ii. iii. 64 Patroclus is a foole positiue . View more context for this quotation
1628 T. Spencer Art of Logick 24 A positiue argument, is that which is attributed simply, and absolutely considered in it selfe: not compared with others.
1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding i. xvii. 105 We can..have no positive Idea of any Space or Duration..not made up of, and commensurate to repeated Numbers of Feet or Yards, or Days and Years, which are the common measures.
1713 G. Berkeley Three Dialogues Hylas & Philonous i. 51 You have no Idea at all, neither relative nor positive of Matter.
1721 R. Bradley Philos. Acct. Wks. Nature 92 Such as feed upon raw Flesh are positive in their Ferocity.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. (at cited word) Beauty is no positive Thing, but depends on the different Tastes of the People.
1802 S. Smith Wks. (1867) I. 15 Nothing short of a positive miracle can make him an acute reasoner.
1853 E. Bulwer-Lytton My Novel III. x. x. 149 You are a positive enigma.
1889 F. E. Gretton Memory's Harkback 47 The excitement, the positive panic throughout the town, when the news came.
1932 E. Waugh Black Mischief v. 176 Lady Courteney remarked that her herbaceous borders were a positive eye sore.
1956 G. Durrell Drunken Forest 176 The hole enlarged to such an extent that, instead of a gentle stream, a positive flood of milk used to pour down Sarah's eager throat.
1982 F. Raphael Byron 37 Byron had shipped out a positive library, including fifty volumes of Parliamentary debates.
1999 BBC Top Gear Mag. Aug. 26/2 The upshot is so much slicker, quicker and accurate that it's a positive pleasure to bung about the 'box.
b. Of a mechanism, apparatus, etc.: directly fulfilling its intended purpose; having a well-defined and effective action.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > efficacy > [adjective]
frameeOE
goodeOE
mightyOE
vailanta1325
sicker1338
mightful1340
suffisant1340
virtuousa1387
effectivea1398
effectuala1398
worthya1398
availingc1420
effectuous?a1425
operant?a1425
substantialc1449
virtual?a1475
substantious1483
available1502
efficacious1528
energial1528
working1532
operatory1551
operatoriousa1555
stately1567
feckful1568
efficace?1572
shifty1585
operative1590
instrumental1601
efficable1607
speeding1612
effectuating1615
officious1618
availsome1619
prevailable1624
valid1651
perficient1659
affectuous1664
implemental1676
virtual1760
efficient1787
sufficient1831
slick1833
roadworthy1837
practician1863
positive1903
performant1977
1903 Sci. Amer. 21 Feb. 134/1 Instead of depending on splash lubrication alone for oiling every part of the engine, positive oil feeds are led to each of the crankshaft bearings.
1938 L. V. W. Clark in A. E. Dunstan et al. Sci. of Petroleum I. ix. 434/1 Blow-out preventers of the first group have been..quite satisfactory for drilling in areas of normal pressure, but where higher pressures are encountered it becomes necessary for a positive control to be available.
1958 Times 1 July 6/6 The steering, which used to be somewhat indefinite, is now light and pleasantly positive in action.
1972 Physics Bull. Apr. 230/2 Minor but important details have been considered—the cable is five feet long and very flexible, the grip on the bench (with rubber ball feet) is positive.
1977 Sci. Amer. Aug. 106/1 The unassisted drum brakes are balanced and positive in action but require heavy foot pressure.
2004 Farmers Guardian (Nexis) 25 June 12 The gearbox is positive in its action and the 140hp 2.5-litre engine feels lively and responsive.
IV. Having relation only to matters of fact.
14.
a. Chiefly Philosophy. Recognizing or dealing only with matters of scientifically verifiable fact and experience (and consequently rejecting metaphysical and theological speculation); practical, realistic; spec. (now historical) designating the philosophy of the French philosopher Auguste Comte (1798–1857). Cf. positivism n. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of imagination > lack of imagination > [adjective]
positive1594
literal1633
unprojecting1647
pounds, shillings, and pence?1650
matter of fact1712
unvisionary1794
unimaginative1814
literalist1838
literal-mindeda1849
visionless1856
realistic1862
terre-à-terre1888
pragmatical1896
illusionless1897
cookie cutter1922
down to earth1922
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > [adjective] > concerned with facts
positive1594
matter of fact1712
factual1820
factful1853
descriptionist1914
1594 R. Carew tr. J. Huarte Exam. Mens Wits x. 140 This selfe difference there is between the Schoole-diuine and the positiue [It. positivo, Sp. positivo], that the one knoweth the cause of whatsoeuer importeth his faculty; and the other the propositions which are verefied, & no more.
1642 J. Howell Instr. Forreine Travell v. 65 The one addicts himselfe for the most part to the study of the Law and Canons, the other to Positive and Schoole Divinity.
1856 W. Bagehot Lit. Stud. (1879) II. 26 He [sc. Gibbon] was what common people call a matter-of-fact reader, and philosophers now-a-days a positive reader.
1864 F. B. Barton in Soc. Sc. Rev. Mar. 214 The teachers of the Positive Religion of Humanity hold that all theology has been an attempt of man to explain his relationship to the forces of nature to which he is subjected.
1875 J. H. Bridges tr. A. Comte Syst. Positive Polity I. 39 The charge of Materialism which is often made against Positive philosophy is of more importance.
1886 J. Morley H. Martineau in Crit. Misc. III. 204 The condensation of Comte's Positive Philosophy..is said..to be hardly free from some too hasty renderings.
1977 E. J. Hobsbawm Age of Capital 1841–75 (BNC) 295 The double base of Comte's ‘positive philosophy’ was the immutability of the laws of nature and the impossibility of all infinite and absolute knowledge.
2002 Times (Nexis) 5 Sept. 39 Comte..stopped reading works by any other author to keep his mind uncontaminated by the thoughts of others... He abandoned his family and his career as a mathematics teacher to preach a new religion which he called positive philosophy.
†b. Grammar. Of a conjunction: introducing a clause which states a matter of fact, not a condition or hypothesis; e.g. ‘he did as he was told’; ‘he came because he was invited’. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > a part of speech > conjunction > [adjective] > other specific types of conjunction
conversive1751
suppositive1751
subcontinuative1786
positive1797
arrestive1863
1797 Encycl. Brit. VIII. 79/2 As to the continuatives, they are either suppositive, such as if, an; or positive, such as because, therefore, as, &c.
†c. Dealing with facts, uncoloured by feelings or opinions; objective. Obsolete. rare.
ΚΠ
1888 J. Bryce Amer. Commonw. II. lxxv. 619 Stating in a purely positive, or as the Germans say ‘objective’, way, what the Americans think about the various features of their system.
†15. Actual, real; concrete, palpable, immediate. Obsolete. positive image n. Optics a real image (see real adj.2 6).
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > reality or real existence or actuality > [adjective]
present1340
actuala1398
absolutec1443
effectualc1475
bodilya1616
effective1620
deedy1781
real lifec1819
positive1831
factual1846
transactional1858
entitative1862
real world1963
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > light > refraction > [noun] > image
positive image1831
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > light > reflection > [noun] > image
shadowc1175
positive image1831
multiple image1863
1831 D. Brewster Treat. Optics ii. 18 In concave mirrors there is, in all cases, a positive image of the object formed in front of the mirror, excepting when the object is placed between the principal focus and the mirror.
1856 E. B. Browning Aurora Leigh i. 10 The skies themselves looked low and positive, As almost you could touch them with a hand.
1897 W. P. Ker Epic & Romance 9 Its motives of action are mainly positive and sensible,—cattle, sheep, piracy, abduction, merchandise, recovery of stolen goods, revenge.
B. n.
1. Grammar. The positive degree of an adjective or adverb; an adjective or adverb in the positive degree.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > other grammatical categories or concepts > [noun] > comparison of adjectives or adverbs > degree(s) of comparison > specific
superlativec1434
positive1530
comparativea1653
superlative absolute1730
superlative relativea1733
the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > other grammatical categories or concepts > [noun] > comparison of adjectives or adverbs > degree(s) of comparison > specific > adjective or adverb in
superlativec1434
comparative1530
positive1530
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement Introd. 28 We..forme our comparatives and superlatyves out of our posytives.
c1620 A. Hume Of Orthogr. Britan Tongue (1870) ii. vi. §4 The positive is the first position of the noun; as, soft, hard.
1717 W. Walker Some Improvem. to Art Teaching (ed. 8) 27 Sometimes there are two Superlatives of one Positive, as extremus and extimus of exterus.
1755 S. Johnson Gram. Eng. Tongue in Dict. Of adjectives... The termination in ish may be accounted in some sort a degree of comparison, by which the signification is diminished below the positive, as black, blackish.
1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. I. v. ix. 292 So many highest superlatives achieved by man..dwindle into comparatives and positives.
1906 Decatur (Illinois) Rev. 29 Apr. 11/5 Riddles... Give the positive, comparative and superlative of getting on in the world.
1993 New Scientist 1 May 48/1 Gradable adjectives..comprise the great majority of our stock of adjectives. As its name implies, the gradable adjective can form a positive, a comparative, and a superlative.
2. A thing having actual existence or able to be affirmed; a reality. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > reality or real existence or actuality > [noun] > a reality or a real thing or state of things > as opposed to a negation
positive1620
positivity1681
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > [noun] > reality > as actually existing > instance of
reality1613
realty1616
positive1620
1620 T. Granger Syntagma Logicum 93 Here is not one positiue, or being opposed to another contrarie positiue, or being,..but the affirmation, position, being thereof, is opposed to negation, deposition, annihilation, not being thereof.
1641 R. Greville Disc. Nature Episcopacie i. v. 21 White and Blacke indeed are Both positives, but so is not Evill.
1878 C. J. Vaughan Earnest Words 145 If these are not mere names and ideas, but realities, and facts, and positives.
1929 Amer. Mercury Jan. 120/1 There, in electricity, may be at least a semblance of something to respect, to stand in awe of, to worship as a positive.
1991 R. Howard tr. E. M. Cioran Anathemas & Admirations viii. 153 Emphasis is laid on the sudden, on the unforeseen, so as to mark the emergence and the sovereignty of the positive, the transfiguration of the inanimate.
3. A desirable or commendable quality or state. Also: the affirmative side, position, or aspect of a question, as opposed to the negative; cf. negative n. 2a.
ΚΠ
a1631 J. Donne Serm. (1956) VIII. 144 Man hath more privatives, then positives in him.
1719 J. Barker Exilius (ed. 2) I. iv. 111 I had a great Debate with myself, whether I should discover my Passion to Scipiana..or no; sometimes resolving on the Positive.
1865 C. J. Vaughan Plain Words (1866) vi. 99 Let the negative have its positive.
1947 Statesville (N. Carolina) Daily Record 29 Nov. 1/2 The minister..chose..to accentuate the positive.
1987 C. D. Chase Mugged on Wall St. xii. 207 I have narrowed my miscues down to what I think are areas that are not error-prone—the positives of my business.
2003 Handwoven Jan.–Feb. 32/3 Lyocell has a tendency to fibrillate or split along the fiber edges, a positive if you want a soft, brushed ‘peachskin’ hand.
†4. Something which arbitrarily or absolutely prescribes or determines. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > command > command or bidding > [noun] > ordinance, prescription, or appointment > that which
positive1647
1647 N. Ward Simple Cobler Aggawam 38 It will be found great wisdome in disputable cases, not to walk on by twylight, but very cautelously; rather by probationers for a time, then peremptory positives.
1685 R. Baxter Paraphr. New Test. Rom. vii. 8 A great number of Legal Positives and Ceremonials had never obliged me.
1732 D. Waterland Scripture Vindicated iii. 37 Positives.., while under Precept, cannot be slighted without slighting Morals also.
†5. Mathematics. A positive quantity. Cf. negative n. 7c. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > [noun] > a negative or positive quantity
positive1704
minusa1721
plus1794
1704 J. Harris Lexicon Technicum I. at Multiplication Negatives multiplying Positives, must produce Negatives.
1789 W. Halbert Pract. Figurer 230 When many quantities, both positive and negative, are given, the easiest way is, to collect the positives into one sum, and the negatives into another, and then subtract their co-efficients, as directed.
6. = positive organ n. at Compounds.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > keyboard instrument > types of organ > [noun] > small organ
regalc1475
portativea1525
chamber organ1673
positive1728
positive organ1728
house organ1758
apollonicon1834
organette1849
organetto1876
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. Positive, in Music, the little Organ usually behind, or at the foot of the Organist, play'd with the same Wind.
1829 V. Novello Mozart Pilgrimage (1975) 305 I walked round the building and had an opportunity of examining more closely the Positif... Its compass is from E in the bass..up to C above the staff... It has an octave of pedals to pull down the keys but no Diapason Pipes.
1885 A. J. Hipkins in G. Grove Dict. Music IV. 303/2 The organs are Orgel (with 3 divisions of pipes), Positive (a chamber organ), Regale (a reed organ), and Portative (pipe regal).
1962 Times 15 Jan. 14/4 Played on authentic instruments. These included a family of Krummhorns.., a pommer, bassoon and positive.
1980 New Grove Dict. Music XIII. 734/1 Positives were blown by a pair of larger bellows operated by a second person.
†7. A conjunction introducing a clause which states a matter of fact, not a condition or hypothesis (see sense A. 14b). Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > a part of speech > conjunction > [noun] > other specific types of conjunction
rationalc1450
subcontinuativea1504
causal1530
conditional1591
perfective1735
positive1751
suppositive1751
vav conversive1828
1751 J. Harris Hermes ii. ii. 244 The Suppositives denote Connection, but assert not actual Existence; the Positives imply both the one and the other.
8.
a. A positive visual image; esp. a positive photographic image. Cf. negative n. 7a.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > a photograph > [noun] > showing normal light and shade
positive1853
photopositive1978
1853 Family Herald 3 Dec. 510/2 To obtain from those pictures good prints or positives.
1883 J. T. Taylor Hardwich's Man. Photogr. Chem. (ed. 9) 188 Collodion Positives are sometimes termed direct, because obtained by a single operation.
1901 J. Cadett & E. S. Shepherd Orthochromatic & Three-colour Photogr. 24 [In the Sanger Shepherd process] the prints for the minus green or pink, and minus blue or yellow positives are printed together on a special film.
1949 M. Kesteven tr. J. B. Brunius in R. Marvell Exper. in Film 88 Sometimes shots were used in the negative to increase their strangeness, or simply because when being edited the picture seemed more beautiful in the negative than the positive.
1986 Professional Photogr. Oct. 68/2 A third possibility is to produce the copy on film as a positive, or, a fourth, as a reversal.
b. A positive cast from a mould. Cf. sense A. 10b, negative n. 7b.
ΚΠ
1917 G. F. Hill in Burlington Mag. for Connoisseurs Nov. 182 If a sand mould was used, a new plaster positive would be taken from the retouched mould.
1924 Amer. Jrnl. Archaeol. 28 25 Most of them are intagliati, moulds or negatives, in which various designs have been sunk, but there are also positives, that is to say, disks with their figures in relief.
1947 J. C. Rich Materials & Methods Sculpt. v. 121 Tape or rubber bands can be used to hold sections of a mold together for casting positives.
1998 J. W. Humphrey et al. Greek & Rom. Technol. ix. 335 Clay models could be used to produce terracotta negatives as moulds for casting directly or for the production of wax positives.
9. The positive terminal, plate, etc., of an electrical cell, battery, or system. Cf. negative n. 8.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > galvanism, voltaism > [noun] > pole > positive plate or pole
anode1834
zincode1839
zincoid1842
zinc1876
positive1881
1881 Times 7 Sept. 5/3 In the electrical eel, the positive is on the back, the negative on the belly, and the currents are not constant, but fluctuating.
1894 Manufacturer & Builder Jan. 1/2 The positives and negatives are well insulated from one another by an India-rubber and asbestos ring passing round each plate.
1924 A. J. Allmand & H. J. T. Ellingham Princ. Appl. Electrochem. (ed. 2) xiv. 244 Gladstone and Tribe showed that the positives of an accumulator undergo slow self-discharge, the PbO2 and the lead of the supporting frame acting as a short-circuited cell.
1964 G. Smith Storage Batteries ii. 23 Planté negatives have been obsolete for many years, and it is modern practice to form Planté positives against plain lead sheets, or ‘dummies’.
1990 W. A. Livesey GCSE Motor Vehicle Stud. xv. 140 Positive is identified by either a plus sign (+) or a brown or red colour, the negative with a minus sign (−) or a blue or black colour.
†10. A definite or distinct colour. Cf. sense A. 4a. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > [noun] > positive colour
positive1899
1899 Daily News 7 Feb. 6/3 The picture is light in key, but though devoid of positives, save in the faint blue background, it is not really colourless.

Compounds

positive definite adj. Mathematics (of a function) having positive (formerly, positive or zero) values for all non-zero values of its argument; (of a square matrix) having all its eigenvalues positive; (more widely, of an operator on a Hilbert space) such that the inner product of any element of the space with its image under the operator is greater than zero.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > mathematical number or quantity > numerical arrangement > [adjective] > of array > relating to matrices > qualities
adjoint1856
transposed1858
adjugate1867
orthogonal1891
alternant1892
positive definite1904
skew-symmetric1911
skew-symmetrical1911
unipotent1921
Hermitian1927
non-Hermitian1930
1904 Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 5 464 It is well known that there is always one such invariant, a positive-definite Hermitian form.
1948 W. V. Houston Princ. Math. Physics (ed. 2) vii. 120 The potential energy will be a quadratic expression in the coordinates that, if the equilibrium is stable, will be a positive definite expression.
1957 L. Fox Numerical Solution Two-point Boundary Probl. vii. 179 If all the λτ are positive, which is the case in many physical problems, and corresponds to some structure of the differential system corresponding to a positive-definite matrix A.., we can also assert [etc.].
1990 IMA Jrnl. Numerical Anal. 10 546 Hk is a positive definite matrix that approximates the inverse reduced Hessian matrix.
positive definiteness n. Mathematics the state or condition of being positive definite.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > mathematical number or quantity > [noun] > particular qualities > signed (positive or negative)
minus1579
plus1579
nome1665
negative1706
positive definiteness1941
1941 Econometrica 9 162 The single divergence, due to the presence of the estimated-reproduction-costs functional with a negative sign in the difference, is the positive-definiteness of the functional quadratic form associated with its second derived functional.
1968 L. Fox & D. F. Mayers Computing Methods for Scientists & Engineers i. 6 The associated matrix may be ‘general’, or it may have special properties such as symmetry, with or without positive-definiteness.
1990 Q. Jrnl. Mech. & Appl. Math. 43 605 Using a factorization of the stiffness matrix and of its inverse, the compliance matrix, allows discussion of the constraints implicit in positive definiteness to be couched in a reduced number of parameters.
positive discrimination n. chiefly British discrimination in favour of individuals belonging to a group considered to be disadvantaged or underprivileged.
ΚΠ
1963 Stevens Point (Wisconsin) Daily Jrnl. 7 June 4/7 The job discrimination against Negroes has been so widespread and has continued for so long that you may have to engage in some kind of compensatory positive discrimination to overcome the effects of this long-standing injustice. I think employers will have to go out and actively recruit Negroes as Negroes.
1977 Film & Television Technician Mar. 8/4 Ms Betty Lockwood, Chairman of the Equal Opportunities Commission, told a WEA seminar of trade union officials that positive discrimination inside unions and in training should be encouraged. That means discrimination in favour of either women or men, though in practice it is likely to mean women.
1991 South Aug. 65/1 We have to get back to an agenda of positive discrimination in world trade if we are to be serious about helping the Developing World really develop.
2004 Yorks. Post (Nexis) 31 May Labour's answer to this education gap is typical. They are trying to introduce positive discrimination against private sector pupils into university admissions.
positive electron n. Physics a subatomic particle analogous to an electron but having a positive charge (now identified with a positron).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > atomic physics > particle physics > particle avoiding strong interaction > electron > [noun] > positive electron
E1894
positive electron1899
positron1933
positon1937
1899 W. Sutherland in London, Edinb., & Dublin Philos. Mag. 5th Ser. 47 273 In æther showing no electric charge each negative electron is united with a positive electron to form the analogue of a material molecule.
1902 Nature 18 Sept. 488 The conception..that the ultimate atoms of matter involve positive and negative electrons.
1932 Science 9 Sept. 238/1 Up to the present a positive electron has always been found with an associated mass 1,850 times that associated with the negative electron.
1936 S. Glasstone Recent Adv. Gen. Chem. i. 13 Anderson..obtained the first definite evidence for the existence of the positive electron, now generally called the ‘positron’.
1980 D. Wilkinson in B. Dixon From Creation to Chaos (1993) 322 Very occasionally one of those protons..transforms itself through the weak force into a neutron, emitting a positive electron (the antiparticle of the more familiar negative electron).
positive eugenics n. the practice of encouraging the birth of children to parents having qualities considered desirable to the community.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > ethnicities > race > ethnoscience > [noun] > eugenics or cacogenics
stirpiculture1870
positive eugenics1909
cacogenics1920
dysgenic1920
1907 C. W. Saleeby in Sociol. Papers III. 31 We must..preserve the two-fold aspect of eugenics, the one positive—the encouragement of the better; the other negative—the discouragement of the worse.]
1909 C. W. Saleeby Parenthood & Race Culture xi. 172 In regard to positive eugenics I..cannot believe in the propriety of attempting to bribe into parenthood people who have no love of children.
1970 Sci. Amer. Mar. 107 Conceivably a changed social climate and increased knowledge will make it possible for positive eugenics to be practiced on man.
1983 E. C. Minkoff Evolutionary Biol. xxviii. 564/1 Positive eugenics, in any case, depends upon our determination of desirable genotypes.
positive eyepiece n. Optics an eyepiece of an optical instrument consisting of two planoconvex lenses with their convex sides facing each other, so named because the image is formed in front of the lenses; cf. negative eyepiece n. at negative adj., adv.2, and int. Compounds.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > optical instruments > lens > [noun] > eye-piece
eyeglass1665
ocular1702
eyepiece1729
Ramsden1787
field glass1797
negative eyepiece1831
positive eyepiece1842
Kellner1865
orthoscopic1868
eye-point1875
comparison eyepiece1940
1842 W. T. Brande Dict. Sci., Lit. & Art 1221/1 The two lenses [of a telescope] are usually plano-convex, with the convex faces towards the object-glass... This eye-piece is usually called the negative eye-piece, from its having the image seen by the eye behind the field-glass [i.e. between the field-glass and the eye-glass]... Another modification..is called the positive eye-piece, because the image observed is before both lenses [i.e. between the field-glass and the object-glass].
1874 Harper's Mag. Sept. 524/1 It has four positive eye-pieces, and one for collimating by means of a mercurial trough.
1958 Van Nostrand's Sci. Encycl. (ed. 3) 1018 When a positive eyepiece is used the magnifying power may be shown to be directly equal to the ratio of the focal length of the object glass of the telescope to the focal length of the eyepiece.
positive feedback n. feedback which tends to cause an increase in the output signal, or (more widely) which tends to amplify the effect of which it is part; (in extended use) affirmative critical response; cf. negative feedback n. at negative adj., adv.2, and int. Compounds.
ΚΠ
1934 H. S. Black in Bell Syst. Techn. Jrnl. 13 5 1/(1–μβ) will be used as a quantitative measure of the effect of feedback and the feedback referred to as positive feedback or negative feedback according as the absolute value of 1/(1–μβ) is greater or less than unity. Positive feedback increases the gain of the amplifier; negative feedback reduces it.
1962 J. H. Simpson & R. S. Richards Physical Princ. Junction Transistors ix. 210 In extreme cases this positive feedback may lead to a catastrophic increase in temperature—a phenomenon commonly called ‘thermal runaway’.
1973 Chicago Tribune 13 Jan. 12/1 The woman who stays home begins to depend on her husband and children for positive feedback about herself.
1994 Amer. Scientist Oct. 419/1 There is a positive feedback loop at work here. If a document makes use of devices that do not work on paper, then people will read it on the computer; if people read documents on the computer, then authors will be liberated to exploit devices that do not work on paper.
2004 Independent 30 Sept. (Educ. section) 5/2 The report gave positive feedback on music, ICT, equal opportunities and extra-curricular activities, but the main concerns were behaviour and attendance.
positive-going adj. increasing in magnitude in the direction of positive electrical polarity; becoming less negative or more positive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > electric polarization > [adjective] > relating to poles > relating to the anode > increasingly
positive-going1946
1946 Proc. Royal Soc. B. 133 457 The positive-going terminal was connected to electrode D through 5MQ.
1979 Sci. Amer. Mar. 104/1 (caption) A positive-going (but not negative-going) shift in membrane voltage causes a brief outward gating current that coincides with the opening of the sodium channels.
1992 Everyday Electronics (BNC) June 357 The output at pin 3 is a positive-going pulse whose duration for a given C and R depends upon the potential at pin 5.
positive logic n. (a) [after German positive Logik ( D. Hilbert & P. Bernays Grundlagen der Math. (1934) I. iii. 68)] , a system of formal logic which dispenses with the operation of negation; (b) a method of representing binary numbers using electrical signals, in which the larger or most positive signal is taken as representing 1 and the smaller signal 0.
ΘΚΠ
society > computing and information technology > [noun] > logic > types of
positive logic1943
threshold logic1947
diode-transistor logic1960
transistor-transistor-logic1962
the mind > mental capacity > philosophy > logic > [noun] > positive logic
positive logic1943
1943 Mind 52 49 Of other ‘rudimentary systems’ I mention only the so-called positive logic, which does not operate with negations.
1955 A. N. Prior Formal Logic iii. ii. 258 This segment of Heyting's calculus forming what Hilbert and Bernays have called ‘positive logic’.
1958 Proc. IRE 46 1249 In the following discussion, positive logic is used. A binary ‘1’ is defined as the most positive signal potential, and a binary ‘0’ as the most negative.
1976 C. Belove & M. M. Drossman Syst. & Circuits for Electr. Engin. Technol. xiii. 325 We shall use the positive logic convention whereby a relatively low voltage represents logical 0 and a relatively high voltage represents logical 1.
1992 RS Components: Electronic & Electr. Products July 846/3 Power Line Modem IC NE5050 N..The modem's transmitter section consists of a Colpitts oscillator, a positive logic, carrier on/off switch, and a line driver.
positive-negative adj. exhibiting both positive and negative characteristics; relating to both what is positive and what is negative in a particular respect.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > contrariety or contrast > [adjective] > both negative and positive
negativo-positive1728
positive-negative1878
plus–minus1893
Marmite1994
1878 Mind 3 356 The name [negative] is properly applied here not in its possible meaning of opposition to the wide positive which includes the narrow positive-negative pair, but in this narrower meaning itself.
1964 E. A. Nida Toward Sci. Translating ii. 24 The differences between literal and free translating are, however, no mere positive-negative dichotomy, but rather a polar distinction with many grades between them.
2001 Proc. National Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 98 9907/2 pBS-tk was placed at one end of the genomic fragment for use in a positive-negative selection scheme.
positive neutralism n. Politics = positive neutrality n.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > politics > international politics or relations > [noun] > neutralism or positive neutralism
positive neutrality1822
neutralism1951
positive neutralism1956
1956 Times 13 Feb. 8/1 The weekend in Egypt has provided an interesting demonstration of what one Cairo commentator has dubbed ‘positive neutralism’. Hot on the heels of Colonel Nasser's ‘substantial measure of agreement’ with the World Bank came the sobering announcement that the Soviet Union and Egypt had reached an agreement on the construction of an atomic energy station.
1982 Peace News 15 Oct. 11/1 In the sixties, the phrase ‘positive neutralism’ was coined to signify this role for Britain outside the alliances. Presumably it would involve much greater ‘self-reliance’ and decentralisation in economic third world and Eastern European countries.
2001 BBC Monitoring Middle East (Nexis) 10 Oct. Positive diplomacy and or positive neutralism mean that Iran has no obligation to any of the warring parties and is not in union with either side, but Iran will try to use the instruments of diplomacy and persuasion to have an active role in these events.
positive neutralist n. (and adj.) Politics a person who adopts or supports a position of positive neutrality; also adjectivally.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > politics > international politics or relations > [noun] > neutralism or positive neutralism > supporter of
positive neutralist1952
1952 R. Strausz-Hupé Zone of Indifference vi. 289 It is easy to pick out the flaws in this argument advanced by the Positive Neutralists who seek the junction point of Atlantic co-operation by the route of European unity.
1988 R. Taylor Against Bomb iii. vii. 330 Both in terms of its permanent arms economy theory and in terms of the formulation of the positive neutralist approach, IS attempted to achieve some genuine fusion between the Disarmament Movement and the far left.
positive neutrality n. Politics a policy of cooperating with, or helping, or actively seeking to improve relations with or between, all parties in a conflict or disagreement, while not taking sides.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > politics > international politics or relations > [noun] > neutralism or positive neutralism
positive neutrality1822
neutralism1951
positive neutralism1956
1822 Times 17 Oct. 2/2 Allied Sovereigns ought not to interfere by force; or, at least, it proposes, before their interference, such an examination of principles, and such a weighing of consequences, as must give the constitutional Spaniards many of the advantages of their positive neutrality.
1897 Hawaiian Gaz. 1 Jan. 4/2 There is a strong feeling that Great Britain's latest moves to secure, if not the friendship, the positive neutrality of the United States is due to the developments among the European powers.
1992 J. L. Esposito Islamic Threat iii. 71 Nasser..espoused ‘positive neutrality’ in the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union.
positive organ n. Music (a) a relatively large though movable pipe organ placed on a stand or upon the floor when played (now chiefly historical); cf. portative organ n. at portative adj. and n. Compounds; (b) a secondary division in some large church organs, played on a separate manual and containing stops suitable for accompanying a choir or for producing distinctive tonal effects; a choir or chair organ.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > keyboard instrument > types of organ > [noun] > small organ
regalc1475
portativea1525
chamber organ1673
positive1728
positive organ1728
house organ1758
apollonicon1834
organette1849
organetto1876
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Organ Church Organs consist of two Parts, viz. the main Body of the Organ, called the great Organ; and the Positive, or little Organ, which is a small Buffet usually placed before the great Organ.
1879 J. Stainer Music of Bible 156 The positive organ in our churches and halls, and the portative barrel-organ.
1887 Times 17 Dec. 15/5 Plate 13 shows a Portable and Plate 11 a Positive organ, the former a processional instrument, with narrow keys, which the player touched with one hand, while the other manipulated the bellows; the latter, a chapel or chamber organ, intended to be stationary, but also with narrower keys than the large church organ, admitting of the grasp of an octave.
1900 Oxf. Times 26 May 7/6 Wytham. All Saints' Church. Opening of new ‘positive’ organ.
1960 D. J. Grout Hist. Western Mus. (1962) iv. 129 In addition to the portative organ or organetto, there were positive organs.
1999 in M. Boyd J. S. Bach 306 To save costs, Bach dispensed with the positive organ in the church (the instrument used to accompany music, such as traditional motets).
positive pressure n. [originally in action of positive pressure , after German positive Druckwirkung (1882 in the passage translated in quot. 1885)] Medicine pressure greater than that of the atmosphere, esp. as used to force air or oxygen into the lungs intermittently to supplement or replace natural inspiration or to treat hypoxia; frequently attributive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > medical treatment > types of treatment generally > [noun] > artificial respiration
artificial respiration1788
positive pressure1885
respiratory therapy1964
ventilation1974
1885 I. B. Yeo tr. M. J. Oertel Respiratory Therapeutics ii. 607 (heading) Action of positive pressure on the surface of the thorax.
1970 Jrnl. Pediatrics 76 183 The indications for intermittent positive pressure ventilation were asphyxia on admission, a single asphyxial attack, [etc.].
1993 New Scientist 10 July 31/1 The trouble with positive pressure breathing for G-protection (PBG), as the technique is called, is that it hampers the return of blood to the heart.
positive rays n. Physics (now chiefly historical) rays formed by streams of positive particles; spec. = canal rays n. at canal n. Compounds 3; also singular when used attributively.
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the world > matter > physics > atomic physics > ion > [noun] > stream moving toward cathode
positive rays1903
1903 J. J. Thomson Conduction Electr. through Gases xvii. 522 On the view of the discharge given in Chap. xvi. there is a stream of positively charged molecules moving towards the cathode, causing this to emit cathode rays; if the cathode is perforated, part of this stream may pass through the holes, producing in the gas behind the cathode luminosity, forming in fact the Canalstrahlen, or positive rays as we may call them, if we think this view of their constitution sufficiently established.
1920 F. W. Aston in London, Edinb., & Dublin Philos. Mag. 6th Ser. 39 625 A positive ray spectrograph capable of giving a focussed mass-spectrum is..described.
1955 C. G. Darwin in W. Pauli Niels Bohr & Devel. Physics 9 Many elements in a positive-ray tube form temporary hydrides.
1968 M. S. Livingston Particle Physics ii. 20 Thomson's studies of the positive rays from ionized hydrogen gas were the first experiments in which the proton was isolated and identified as a particle.
positive reinforcement n. Psychology the establishment of a (desired) behaviour pattern by means of reward.
ΚΠ
1928 L. T. Troland Fundam. Human Motivation xxii. 384 Actual success may settle him in certain lines of endeavor, because of the positive reinforcement which comes with his awareness of his own achievements.
2001 E. Schlosser Fast Food Nation iii. 74 One of these techniques is called ‘stroking’—a form of positive reinforcement, deliberate praise, and recognition that many teenagers don't get at home.
positive sign n. the mathematical symbol ‘+’; the plus sign (cf. also sign n. 2e).
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > mathematical notation or symbol > [noun] > arithmetic or algebraic symbols > positive or negative quantities
negative sign1668
positive sign1702
sign1702
1702 J. Harris New Short Treat. Algebra 50 If it have a positive Sign, the two Roots have like Signs, but if a Negative one, unlike.
1852 B. Peirce Elem. Treat. Plane & Spherical Trigonom. vi. 102 All those areas, which are preceded by the negative sign, are the same with those in the column of North Areas; while all those, which are connected with the positive sign, belong to the column of South Areas.
1978 Accounting Rev. 53 987/1 Analysis of the data was completed using the following null hypothesis (H1) and alternate hypothesis (H2). H1: For the universe, the sum of the positive-sign ranks is the same as the negative-sign ranks. Both groups did equally well.
positive-sum n. and adj. (also positive sum) (a) n. a game or situation in which the net benefits or gains available to the participants can increase; (b) adj. (frequently in positive-sum game) designating such a game; cf. zero-sum adj. 1.
ΚΠ
1948 R. Stone in Econ. Jrnl. 58 188 In the case of a zero-sum two-person game, this will be a certain positive sum for one of the players, say A, and an identical negative sum for the other, say B.
1950 K. E. Boulding Reconstruction of Econ. iv. 74 The transformation of the ‘zero-sum’ game of the pure marketer into the ‘positive-sum’ game of economic activity as a whole can come about only through the creation of assets.
1991 Internat. Affairs 67 376 Ending apartheid is a positive-sum game, which increases the total resources available.
1995 Nation (N.Y.) 23 Jan. 88/1 Such an approach..does not assume that only one group wins. It avoids a zero-sum solution in favor of a positive-sum solution that more broadly accommodates the goals of diversity and genuine merit.
positive thinking n. originally Psychology the practice or result of concentrating one's mind affirmatively on the good and constructive aspects of a matter so as to eliminate negative or destructive attitudes and emotions.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > psychology > study of emotions > emotional care > [noun] > positive outlook
positive thinking1855
1855 Biblical Repertory Oct. 569 He shows that negative thought is realized only under the condition of relativity and positive thinking.
1953 N. V. Peale (title) The power of positive thinking.
1974 Country Life 21 Nov. 1616/2 I believe that positive thinking can help one overcome many difficulties in life.
2003 Time 3 Nov. 55/1 The therapist teaches education skills and positive thinking.
positive transfer n. Psychology and Education the transfer of effects from the learning of one skill that facilitate the subsequent learning of another.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > psychology > developmental psychology > acquisition of knowledge > types of learning > [noun] > transfer of skills
transfer1901
positive transfer1921
1921 F. N. Freeman Exper. Educ. ii. 47 There is..positive transfer again from Set 3 to Set 4.
1933 R. W. Bruce in Jrnl. Exper. Psychol. 16 351 There is a marked positive transfer in learning to make an old response to a new stimulus.
1997 Appl. Linguistics 18 88 The degree of difficulty in language learning depended on the similarities or differences between the L1 (first language) and the L2 (second language). If they were similar, then learning could take place easily with the ‘positive transfer’ of L1 to the L2.
positive transference n. [after German positive Übertragung (1913 in the passage translated in quot. 1916)] Psychoanalysis transference in which the feelings involved are of a positive or affectionate nature.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > psychology > theory of psychoanalysis > libido > transfer of feelings > [noun] > with good feelings
positive transference1916
1916 C. E. Long tr. C. G. Jung Coll. Papers Analyt. Psychol. ix. 270 As long as it is a question of the so-called ‘positive’ transference, the infantile-erotic character can usually be recognised without difficulty.
1970 A. Janov Primal Scream xiv. 246 When the therapist is helpful and warm and offers a bit of advice, he is encouraging the ‘positive’ transference.
1991 E. Rayner Independent Mind in Brit. Psychoanal. viii. 182 Freud..believed in allowing mild positive transference feelings for the analyst to go on unhindered since they aided a co-operative analytic venture.
positive vetting n. detailed and exhaustive vetting of a person, usually for an official post; spec. (British) a process of exhaustive inquiry into the background and character of a candidate for a civil service post that involves access to secret material.Cf. negative vetting n. at negative adj., adv.2, and int. Compounds.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > evaluation, estimation, appraisal > [noun] > appraisal of character or qualities
estimate1589
vetting1918
appraisal1950
positive vetting1954
performance appraisal1955
peer review1967
1954 N.Y. Times 12 Oct. 8/6 He [sc. the British Home Secretary] explained that by negative vetting he meant checking up on people by inquiring from others about them, while ‘positive vetting means that they've got to answer questions themselves, give references and so on’.
1955 H. Macmillan in Hansard Commons 7 Nov. 1499 At the beginning of 1952, a regular system of positive vetting was introduced. This procedure entails detailed research into the whole background of the officer concerned.
1982 Daily Tel. 20 July 3/1 There are some 68,000 government posts currently requiring positive vetting. Civil servants of Under Secretary rank and above are automatic candidates.
2006 Austral. Financial Rev. 8 Dec. 73 Positive vetting involves specialist investigators probing deeply into a candidate's past.
2011 Guardian 25 July 29 I was put through the complete positive vetting procedure by government security, then based at the Ministry of Aviation.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2006; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

† positivev.

Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: positive adj.
Etymology: < positive adj. With sense 2 compare negative v. 5.
Obsolete. rare.
1. transitive. To affirm positively, assert.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > assertion or affirmation > [verb (transitive)]
vowc1330
anferme1340
affirma1382
willa1382
threapc1386
avow1393
to make oneself strongc1425
maintain?c1430
protest1440
traverse1491
assure1509
ferma1525
verc1540
profess1542
enforce1579
justify1579
aver1582
to take on1583
asserta1604
will1614
assevera1618
positive1656
autume1661
declare1709
obtesta1722
predicate1782
asseveratea1847
1656 S. Hunton Golden Law 43 I may safely positive it, and say, that neither his Highness..nor the Parliament..might part with their Powers.
2. transitive. To produce a positive photograph of.Apparently an isolated use.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > photographic processes > [verb (transitive)] > print
print1851
positive1894
1894 G. A. Sala London up to Date ii. 17 Being focussed, negatived, and positived in that apparel.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2006; most recently modified version published online September 2019).
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adj.n.c1385v.1656
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