Adjective

(en adjective)

(legal) Formally laid down.

* Hooker

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

Stated definitively and without qualification.

* :

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

Fully assured in opinion.

I’m absolutely positive you've spelt that wrong.

(mathematics) Of number, greater than zero.

Characterized by constructiveness or influence for the better.

* :

a positive voice in legislation.

Overconfident, dogmatic.

* :

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

(chiefly, philosophy) Actual, real, concrete, not theoretical or speculative.

* :

Positive good.

(physics) Having more protons than electrons.

A cation is a positive ion as it has more protons than electrons.

(grammar) Describing the primary sense of an adjective, adverb or noun; not comparative, superlative, augmentative nor diminutive.

‘Better’ is an irregular comparative of the positive form ‘good’.

Derived from an object by itself; not dependent on changing circumstances or relations; absolute.

The idea of beauty is not positive , but depends on the different tastes of individuals.

Characterized by the existence or presence of distinguishing qualities or features, rather than by their absence.

The box was not empty – I felt some positive substance within it.

Characterized by the presence of features which support a hypothesis.

The results of our experiment are positive .

(photography) Of a visual image, true to the original in light, shade and colour values.

A positive photograph can be developed from a photographic negative.

Favorable, desirable by those interested or invested in that which is being judged.

The first-night reviews were largely positive .

Wholly what is expressed; colloquially downright, entire, outright.

Good lord, you've built up a positive arsenal of weaponry here.

Optimistic.

He has a positive outlook on life.

(chemistry) electropositive

(chemistry) basic; metallic; not acid; opposed to negative, and said of metals, bases, and basic radicals.

(slang) HIV positive.

(New Age jargon) Good, desirable, healthful, pleasant, enjoyable; (often precedes 'energy', 'thought', 'feeling' or 'emotion').

2009 , Christopher Johns, Becoming a Reflective Practitioner , John Wiley & Sons, p. 15

Negative feelings can be worked through and their energy converted into positive' energy... In crisis, normal patterns of self-organization fail, resulting in anxiety (negative energy). Being open systems, people can exchange this energy with the environment and create ' positive energy for taking action...

Adjective

(en adjective)

Answerable for an act performed or for its consequences; accountable; amenable, especially legally or politically.

* {{quote-magazine, date=2012-03

, author=William E. Carter, Merri Sue Carter , title=The British Longitude Act Reconsidered , volume=100, issue=2, page=87 , magazine= citation , passage=But was it responsible governance to pass the Longitude Act without other efforts to protect British seamen? Or might it have been subterfuge—a disingenuous attempt to shift attention away from the realities of their life at sea.}}

Parents are responsible for their child's behaviour.

Capable of responding to any reasonable claim; able to answer reasonably for one's conduct and obligations; capable of rational conduct.

Involving responsibility; involving a degree of personal accountability on the part of the person concerned.

She has a responsible position in the firm.

Being a primary cause or agent of some event or action; capable of being credited for something, or of being held liable for something.

Who is responsible for this mess?

Able to be trusted; reliable; trustworthy.

He looks like a responsible guy.