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POSITIVE

Volume 17 · 117 words · 1815 Edition

a term of relation opposed to negative. It is also used in opposition to relative or arbitrary; thus we say, Beauty is no positive thing, but depends on the different tastes of people.

POSITIVE Degree, in Grammar, is the adjective in its simple signification, without any comparison.

POSITIVE Electricity. In the Franklinian system all bodies supposed to contain more than their natural quantity of electric matter are said to be positively electrified; and those from whom some part of their electricity is supposed to be taken away are said to be electrified negatively. These two electricities being first produced, one from glass, the other from amber or rosin, the former was called vitreous, the other resinous, electricity.