Positive

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈpɑzɪtɪv/

Definitions

1. Having a constructive, optimistic, or affirmative quality; marked by the presence rather than absence of distinguishing features
2. Exhibiting qualities that are favorable, beneficial, or confident
3. Showing agreement or approval in a manner that confirms or supports ; displaying an optimistic attitude or producing helpful outcomes ; signifying the existence or truth of something with certainty

Etymology: The word "positive" comes from the Latin "positivus," which means "placed" or "settled," from the past participle stem of "ponere," meaning "to place." That idea of something being set down firmly is the thread running through its history. Latin used "positivus" for things that were established by decree or convention, as opposed to things found in nature, and this sense of "laid down" rather than "naturally given" is the root of the word's later meanings. The word reached English through Old French "positif," and its modern senses grew out of that root. The sense of "marked by the presence of something" rather than its absence follows naturally: a positive is something set in place, whereas a negative is the lack of it. The same logic lies behind the optimistic sense, which emerged as the idea of something firmly affirmed or confidently stated. The word is also a close relative of "posit," which carries the same notion of putting something forward as a fact or assumption, and of "position," which shares the same Latin verb at its core.

Synonyms: affirmative, optimistic, constructive

Antonyms: negative, pessimistic