Noun | 1. | positive - a film showing a photographic image whose tones correspond to those of the original subject |
Adj. | 1. | positive - characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance or certainty etc.; "a positive attitude"; "the reviews were all positive"; "a positive benefit"; "a positive demand" Antonyms: negative - characterized by or displaying negation or denial or opposition or resistance; having no positive features; "a negative outlook on life"; "a colorless negative personality"; "a negative evaluation"; "a negative reaction to an advertising campaign" neutral - of no distinctive quality or characteristics or type |
2. | positive - having a positive electric charge; "protons are positive" Synonyms: electropositive Antonyms: electronegative, negative - having a negative electric charge; "electrons are negative" electroneutral, neutral - having no net electric charge; not electrified | |
3. | positive - involving advantage or good; "a plus (or positive) factor" Synonyms: plus | |
4. | positive - indicating existence or presence of a suspected condition or pathogen; "a positive pregnancy test" Synonyms: confirming Antonyms: disconfirming, negative - not indicating the presence of microorganisms or disease or a specific condition; "the HIV test was negative" | |
5. | positive - formally laid down or imposed; "positive laws" Synonyms: prescribed | |
6. | positive - impossible to deny or disprove; "incontrovertible proof of the defendant's innocence"; "proof positive"; "an irrefutable argument" Synonyms: incontrovertible, irrefutable | |
7. | positive - of or relating to positivism; "positivist thinkers"; "positivist doctrine"; "positive philosophy" Synonyms: positivist, positivistic | |
8. | positive - greater than zero; "positive numbers" | |
9. | positive - marked by excessive confidence; "an arrogant and cocksure materialist"; "so overconfident and impudent as to speak to the queen"; "the less he knows the more positive he gets" Synonyms: cocksure, overconfident | |
10. | positive - persuaded of; very sure; "were convinced that it would be to their advantage to join"; "I am positive he is lying"; "was confident he would win" | |
11. | positive - granting what has been desired or requested; "a favorable reply"; "a positive answer" Synonyms: favorable |
LAW, POSITIVE. Positive law, as used in opposition to natural law, may be considered in a threefold point of view. 1. The universal voluntary law, or those rules which are presumed to be law, by the uniform practice of nations in general, and by the manifest utility of the rules themselves. 2. The customary law, or that which, from motives of convenience, has, by tacit, but implied agreement, prevailed, not generally indeed among all nations, nor with so permanent a utility as to become a portion of the universal voluntary law, but enough to have acquired a prescriptive obligation among certain states so situated as to be mutually benefited by it. 1 Taunt. 241. 3. The conventional law, or that which is agreed between particular states by express treaty, a law binding on the parties among whom such treaties are in force. 1 Chit. Comm. Law, 28.
POSITIVE. Express; absolute; not doubtful. This word is frequently used in
composition.
2. A positive condition is where the thing which is the subject of it
must happen; as, if I marry. It is opposed to a negative condition, which is
where the thing which is the subject of it must not happen; as, if I do not
marry.
3. A positive fraud is the intentional and successful employment of any
cunning, deception or artifice, to circumvent, cheat, or deceive another. 1
Story, Eq. Sec. 186; Dig. 4, 3, 1, 2; Dig. 2, 14, 7, 9. It is cited in
opposition to constructive fraud. (q.v.)
4. Positive evidence is that which, if believed, establishes the truth
or falsehood of a fact in issue, and does not arise from any presumption. It
is distinguished from circumstantial evidence. 3 Bouv. Inst. n. 3057.