Positive

poz′i-tiv, adj. definitely placed or laid down: clearly expre ed: really existing: actual: not admitting of any doubt or qualification: decisive: settled by distinct appointment: arbitrarily prescribed, laid down—opp. to Natural : too confident in opinion: fully a ured: certain: ( gram. ) noting the simple form of an adjective—as Positive degree of comparison: ( math. ) greater than zero, to be added, as Positive quantity : ( phot. ) having the lights and shades in the picture the same as in the original, instead of being reversed: ( electr. ) having a relatively high potential—opp. to Negative (q.v.).— n. that which is placed or laid down: that which may be affirmed: reality: a positive picture—opp. to Negative .— adv. Pos′itively .— ns. Pos′itivene , state or quality of being positive: certainty: confidence; Pos′itivism , actual or absolute knowledge; Pos′itivist , a believer in positivism.— Pos′itivism , Positive philosophy , the philosophical system originated by Comte (1798-1857)—its foundation the doctrine that man can have no knowledge of anything but phenomena, and that the knowledge of phenomena is relative, not absolute. [Fr.,—L. positivus , fixed by agreement— ponĕre , to place.]