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positive |
7 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: {Law of Charles} (Physics), the law that the volume of a given mass of gas increases or decreases, by a definite fraction of its value for a given rise or fall of temperature; -- sometimes less correctly styled {Gay Lussac's law}, or {Dalton's law}. {Law of nations}. See {International law}, under {International}. {Law of nature}. a A broad generalization expressive of the constant action or effect, of natural conditions; as death is a law of nature; self-defense is a law of nature. See {Law}, 4. b A term denoting the standard, or system, of morality deducible from a study of the nature and natural relations of human beings independent of supernatural revelation or of municipal and social usages. {Law of the land}, due process of law; the general law of the land. {Laws of honor}. See under {Honor}. {Laws of motion} (Physics), three laws defined by Sir Isaac Newton: (1) Every body perseveres in its state of rest or of moving uniformly in a straight line except so far as it is made to change that state by external force. (2) Change of motion is proportional to the impressed force, and takes place in the direction in which the force is impressed. (3) Reaction is always equal and opposite to action that is to say the actions of two bodies upon each other are always equal and in opposite directions. {Marine law}, or {Maritime law}, the law of the sea; a branch of the law merchant relating to the affairs of the sea, such as seamen, ships, shipping, navigation, and the like --Bouvier. {Mariotte's law}. See {Boyle's law} (above). {Martial law}.See under {Martial}. {Military law}, a branch of the general municipal law, consisting of rules ordained for the government of the military force of a state in peace and war, and administered in courts martial. --Kent. Warren's Blackstone. {Moral law},the law of duty as regards what is right and wrong in the sight of God; specifically, the ten commandments given by Moses. See {Law}, 2. {Mosaic}, or {Ceremonial}, {law}. (Script.) See {Law}, 3. {Municipal}, or {Positive}, {law}, a rule prescribed by the supreme power of a state, declaring some right enforcing some duty, or prohibiting some act -- distinguished from international and constitutional law. See {Law}, 1. {Periodic law}. (Chem.) See under {Periodic}. {Roman law}, the system of principles and laws found in the codes and treatises of the lawmakers and jurists of ancient Rome, and incorporated more or less into the laws of the several European countries and colonies founded by them See {Civil law} (above). {Statute law}, the law as stated in statutes or positive enactments of the legislative body. {Sumptuary law}. See under {Sumptuary}. {To go to law}, to seek a settlement of any matter by bringing it before the courts of law; to sue or prosecute some one {To} {take, or have}, {the law of}, to bring the law to bear upon as to take the law of one's neighbor. --Addison. {Wager of law}. See under {Wager}. Syn: Justice; equity. Usage: {Law}, {Statute}, {Common law}, {Regulation}, {Edict}, {Decree}. Law is generic, and when used with reference to or in connection with the other words here considered, denotes whatever is commanded by one who has a right to require obedience. A statute is a particular law drawn out in form and distinctly enacted and proclaimed. Common law is a rule of action founded on long usage and the decisions of courts of justice. A regulation is a limited and often temporary law, intended to secure some particular end or object. An edict is a command or law issued by a sovereign, and is peculiar to a despotic government. A decree is a permanent order either of a court or of the executive government. See {Justice}. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Positive \Pos"i*tive\, a. 1. (Mach. & Mech.) a 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 Designating, or pertaining to a device giving a to-and-fro motion; as a positive dobby. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Demonstration \Dem`on*stra"tion\, n. [L. demonstratio: cf F. d['e]monstration.] 1. The act of demonstrating; an exhibition; proof; especially, proof beyond the possibility of doubt; indubitable evidence, to the senses or reason. Those intervening ideas which serve to show the agreement of any two others are called ``proofs;'' and where agreement or disagreement is by this means plainly and clearly perceived, it is called demonstration. --Locke. 2. An expression, as of the feelings, by outward signs; a manifestation; a show Did your letters pierce the queen to any demonstration of grief? --Shak. Loyal demonstrations toward the prince. --Prescott. 3. (Anat.) The exhibition and explanation of a dissection or other anatomical preparation. 4. (Mil.) a decisive exhibition of force, or a movement indicating an attack. 5. (Logic) The act of proving by the syllogistic process, or the proof itself 6. (Math.) A course of reasoning showing that a certain result is a necessary consequence of assumed premises; -- these premises being definitions, axioms, and previously established propositions. {Direct}, or {Positive}, {demonstration} (Logic & Math.), one in which the correct conclusion is the immediate sequence of reasoning from axiomatic or established premises; -- opposed to {Indirect}, or {Negative}, {demonstration} (called also {reductio ad absurdum}), in which the correct conclusion is an inference from the demonstration that any other hypothesis must be incorrect. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Positive \Pos"i*tive\, n. 1. That which is capable of being affirmed; reality. --South. 2. That which settles by absolute appointment. 3. (Gram.) The positive degree or form 4. (Photog.) 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. 5. (Elec.) The positive plate of a voltaic or electrolytic cell. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Positive \Pos"i*tive\, a. [OE. positif F. positif L. positivus See {Position}.] 1. Having a real position, existence, or energy; existing in fact real; actual; -- opposed to negative. ``Positive good.'' --Bacon. 2. 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. 3. 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. 4. 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. 5. 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. 6. 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. 7. Having the power of direct action or influence; as a positive voice in legislation. --Swift. 8. (Photog.) 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. 9. (Chem.) a Electro-positive. b Hence basic; metallic; not acid; -- opposed to {negative}, and said of metals, bases, and basic radicals. {Positive crystals} (Opt.), a doubly refracting crystal in which the index of refraction for the extraordinary ray is greater than for the ordinary ray, and the former is refracted nearer to the axis than the latter, as quartz and ice; -- opposed to negative crystal, or one in which this characteristic is reversed, as Iceland spar, tourmaline, etc {Positive degree} (Gram.), that state of an adjective or adverb which denotes simple quality, without comparison or relation to increase or diminution; as wise, noble. {Positive electricity} (Elec), the kind of electricity which is developed when glass is rubbed with silk, or which appears at that pole of a voltaic battery attached to the plate that is not attacked by the exciting liquid; -- formerly called {vitreous electricity}; -- opposed to {negative electricity}. {Positive eyepiece}. See under {Eyepiece}. {Positive law}. See {Municipal law}, under {Law}. {Positive motion} (Mach.), motion which is derived from a driver through unyielding intermediate pieces, or by direct contact and not through elastic connections, nor by means of friction, gravity, etc.; definite motion. {Positive philosophy}. See {Positivism}. {Positive pole}. a (Elec.) The pole of a battery or pile which yields positive or vitreous electricity; -- opposed to {negative pole}. b (Magnetism) The north pole. [R.] {Positive quantity} (Alg.), an affirmative quantity, or one affected by the sign plus [+]. {Positive rotation} (Mech.), left-handed rotation. {Positive sign} (Math.), the sign [+] denoting plus, or more or addition. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: positive adj 1: characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance or certainty etc.; "a positive attitude"; "the reviews were all positive"; "a positive benefit"; "a positive demand" [ant: {negative}, {neutral}] 2: involving advantage or good; "a plus (or positive) factor" [syn: {plus}] 3: having a positive electric charge; "protons are positive" [syn: {electropositive}] [ant: {negative}, {neutral}] 4: (med) indicating existence or presence of a suspected condition or pathogen; "a positive pregnancy test" [syn: {confirming}] [ant: {negative}] 5: formally laid down or imposed; "positive laws" [syn: {prescribed}] 6: impossible to deny or disprove; "incontrovertible proof of the defendant's innocence"; "proof positive"; "an irrefutable argument" [syn: {incontrovertible}, {irrefutable}] 7: of or relating to positivism; "positivist thinkers"; "positivist doctrine"; "positive philosophy" [syn: {positivist}, {positivistic}] 8: (mathematics) greater than zero; "positive numbers" 9: marked by excessive confidence; "an arrogant and cocksure materialist"; "so bold and impudent as to speak to the queen"; "the less he knows the more positive he gets" [syn: {bold}, {cocksure}, {overconfident}] 10: 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" [syn: {convinced(p)}, {positive(p)}, {confident(p)}] 11: granting what has been desired or requested; "a favorable reply"; "a positive answer" [syn: {favorable}] n : a film showing a photographic image whose tones correspond to those of the original subject From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]: POSITIVE, adj Mistaken at the top of one's voice.
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