positive
pronunciation
How to pronounce positive in British English:
UK [ˈpɒzətɪv]
How to pronounce positive in American English:
US [ˈpɑːzətɪv]
-
- Noun:
- a film showing a photographic image whose tones correspond to those of the original subject
-
- Adjective:
- characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance or certainty etc.
- having a positive electric charge
- involving advantage or good
- indicating existence or presence of a suspected condition or pathogen
- formally laid down or imposed
- impossible to deny or disprove
- of or relating to positivism
- greater than zero
- marked by excessive confidence
- persuaded of; very sure
- granting what has been desired or requested
Word Origin
- positive (adj.)
- early 14c., originally a legal term meaning "formally laid down," from Old French positif (13c.) and directly from Latin positivus "settled by agreement, positive" (opposed to naturalis "natural"), from positus, past participle of ponere "put, place" (see position (n.)). Sense of "absolute" is from mid-15c. Meaning in philosophy of "dealing only with facts" is from 1590s. Sense broadened to "expressed without qualification" (1590s), then "confident in opinion" (1660s); mathematical use is from 1704; in electricity, 1755. Psychological sense of "concentrating on what is constructive and good" is recorded from 1916.
- positive (n.)
- 1520s, from positive (adj.).
Antonym
Example
- 1. Reviews have been -- and remain -- positive .
- 2. This will have two critically important positive effects :
- 3. The plan assumes further cuts in greek government spending and a positive economic growth rate .
- 4. Yet ireland has shown positive growth this year , while portugal is still in negative territory .
- 5. And give positive feedback when it is deserved .