POS'ITIVE, a. [Low L. positivus.]

1. Properly, set; laid down; expressed; direct; explicit; opposed to implied; as, he told us in positive words; we have his positive declaration to the fact; the testimony is positive.
2. Absolute; express; not admitting any condition or discretion. The commands of the admiral are positive.
3. Absolute; real; existing in fact; opposed to negative, as positive good, which exists by itself, whereas negative good is merely the absence of evil; or opposed to relative or arbitrary, as beauty is not a positive thing, but depends on the different tastes of people. – Locke. Encyc.
4. Direct; express; opposed to circumstantial; as, positive proof. – Blackstone.
5. Confident; fully assured; applied to persons. The witness is very positive that he is correct in his testimony.
6. Dogmatic; over-confident in opinion or assertion. Some positive persisting fops we know, / That, if once wrong, will needs be always so. – Pope.
7. Settled by arbitrary appointment; opposed to natural or inbred. In laws, that which is natural, bindeth universally; that which is positive, not so. – Hooker. Although no laws but positive are mutable, yet all are not mutable which are positive. – Hooker.
8. Having power to act directly; as, a positive voice in legislation. – Swift. Positive degree, in grammar, is the state of an adjective which denotes simple or absolute quality, without comparison or relation to increase or diminution; as, wise, noble. Positive electricity, according to Dr. Franklin, consists in a superabundance of the fluid in a substance. Others suppose it to consist in a tendency of the fluid outward. It is not certain in what consists the difference between positive and negative electricity. Positive electricity being produced by rubbing glass, is called the vitreous; negative electricity, produced by rubbing amber or resin, is called the resinous. – Encyc.

1. What is capable of being affirmed; reality. – South.
2. That which settles by absolute appointment. – Waterland.
3. In grammar, a word that affirms or asserts existence. – Harris.

1. Having a real position, existence, or energy; existing in fact; real; actual; -- opposed to negative.
   
   
   "Positive good." Bacon.
2. That which is capable of being affirmed; reality.
   
   
   South.
3. Designating, or pertaining to, a motion or device in which the movement derived from a driver, or the grip or hold of a restraining piece, is communicated through an unyielding intermediate piece or pieces] as, a claw clutch is a positive clutch, while a friction clutch is not.
   
   
   (b)
4. Derived from an object by itself; not dependent on changing circumstances or relations; absolute; -- opposed to relative; as, the idea of beauty is not positive, but depends on the different tastes individuals.
5. That which settles by absolute appointment.
6. Designating a method of steering or turning in which the steering wheels move so that they describe concentric arcs in making a turn, to insure freedom from side slip or harmful resistance.
7. Definitely laid down; explicitly stated; clearly expressed; -- opposed to implied; as, a positive declaration or promise.
   
   

   Positive words, that he would not bear arms against King Edward's son. Bacon.

8. The positive degree or form.
9. Hence: Not admitting of any doubt, condition, qualification, or discretion; not dependent on circumstances or probabilities; not speculative; compelling assent or obedience; peremptory; indisputable; decisive; as, positive instructions; positive truth; positive proof.
   
   
   "'T is positive 'gainst all exceptions." Shak.
10. A picture in which the lights and shades correspond in position with those of the original, instead of being reversed, as in a negative.
    
    
    R. Hunt.
11. Prescribed by express enactment or institution; settled by arbitrary appointment; said of laws.
    
    

    In laws, that which is natural bindeth universally; that which is positive, not so. Hooker.

12. The positive plate of a voltaic or electrolytic cell.
13. Fully assured; confident; certain; sometimes, overconfident; dogmatic; overbearing; -- said of persons.
    
    

    Some positive, persisting fops we know,
    That, if once wrong, will needs be always. Pope.

14. Having the power of direct action or influence; as, a positive voice in legislation.
    
    
    Swift.
15. Corresponding with the original in respect to the position of lights and shades, instead of having the lights and shades reversed; as, a positive picture.
16. Electro- positive.
    
    
    (b)