Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin positivus, from positus, past participle of ponere
Date: 14th century
1 a: formally laid down or imposed :prescribed<positive laws>b: expressed clearly or peremptorily <her answer was a positive no>c: fully assured :confident<positive it was her book> 2 a: of, relating to, or constituting the degree of comparison that is expressed in English by the unmodified and uninflected form of an adjective or adverb and denotes no increase or diminution b (1): independent of changing circumstances :unconditioned<an insurance policy with positive coverage>(2): relating to or constituting a motion or device that is definite, unyielding, constant, or certain in its action <a positive system of levers>c (1):incontestable<positive proof>(2):unqualified<a positive disgrace> 3 a: not fictitious :real<positive social tensions>b: active and effective in social or economic function rather than merely maintaining peace and order <a positive government> 4 a: indicating, relating to, or characterized by affirmation, addition, inclusion, or presence rather than negation, withholding, or absence <took the positive approach and struck a new deal rather than canceling the contract>b: having rendition of light and shade similar in tone to the tones of the original subject <a positive photographic image>c: contributing toward or characterized by increase or progression <take some positive action><positive cash flow>d: directed or moving toward a source of stimulation <a positive taxis>e: real and numerically greater than zero <+2 is a positive integer> 5 a (1): being, relating to, or charged with electricity of which the proton is the elementary unit and which predominates in a glass body after being rubbed with silk (2): having more protons than electrons <a positive ion>b (1): having higher electric potential and constituting the part from which the current flows to the external circuit <the positive terminal of a discharging storage battery>(2): being an electron-collecting electrode of an electron tube 6 a: marked by or indicating acceptance, approval, or affirmation <received a positive response>b: affirming the presence especially of a condition, substance, or organism suspected to be present <a positive test for blood>; also: having a test result indicating the presence especially of a condition, substance, or organism <HIV positive> 7of a lens: converging light rays and forming a real inverted image 8 a: having a good effect :favorable<a positive role model>b: marked by optimism <the positive point of view>