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7 definitions found
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 : [ gcide ]
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.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
3. Definitely laid down; explicitly stated; clearly
expressed; -- opposed to implied; as, a positive
declaration or promise.
[1913 Webster]
Positive words, that he would not bear arms against
King Edward's son. --Bacon.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
5. Prescribed by express enactment or institution; settled by
arbitrary appointment; said of laws.
[1913 Webster]
In laws, that which is natural bindeth universally;
that which is positive, not so. --Hooker.
[1913 Webster]
6. Fully assured; confident; certain; sometimes,
overconfident; dogmatic; overbearing; -- said of persons.
[1913 Webster]
Some positive, persisting fops we know,
That, if once wrong, will needs be always. --Pope.
[1913 Webster]
7. Having the power of direct action or influence; as, a
positive voice in legislation. --Swift.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
9. (Chem.)
(a) Electro-positive.
(b) Hence, basic; metallic; not acid; -- opposed to
negative, and said of metals, bases, and basic
radicals.
[1913 Webster]
10. (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.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
11. (Vehicles) Designating a method of steering or turning in
which the steering wheels move so that they describe
concentric arcs in making a turn, to insure freedom from
side slip or harmful resistance.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
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.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 : [ gcide ]
Vitreous \Vit"re*ous\, a. [L. vitreous, from vitrum glass;
perhaps akin to videre to see (see Vision). Cf. Varnish.]
1. Consisting of, or resembling, glass; glassy; as, vitreous
rocks.
[1913 Webster]
2. Of or pertaining to glass; derived from glass; as,
vitreous electricity.
[1913 Webster]
Vitreous body (Anat.), the vitreous humor. See the Note
under Eye.
Vitreous electricity (Elec.), the kind of electricity
excited by rubbing glass with certain substances, as silk;
positive electricity; -- opposed to resinous, or negative,
electricity.
Vitreous humor. (Anat.) See the Note under Eye.
Vitreous sponge (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of
siliceous sponges having, often fibrous, glassy spicules
which are normally six-rayed; a hexactinellid sponge. See
Venus's basket, under Venus.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 : [ gcide ]
Electricity \E`lec*tric"i*ty\ ([=e]`l[e^]k*tr[i^]s"[i^]*t[y^]),
n.; pl. Electricities ([=e]`l[e^]k*tr[i^]s"[i^]*t[i^]z).
[Cf. F. ['e]lectricit['e]. See Electric.]
1. (Physics) a property of certain of the fundamental
particles of which matter is composed, called also
electric charge, and being of two types, designated
positive and negative; the property of electric charge on
a particle or physical body creates a force field which
affects other particles or bodies possessing electric
charge; positive charges create a repulsive force between
them, and negative charges also create a repulsive force.
A positively charged body and a negatively charged body
will create an attractive force between them. The unit of
electrical charge is the coulomb, and the intensity of
the force field at any point is measured in volts.
[PJC]
2. any of several phenomena associated with the accumulation
or movement of electrically charged particles within
material bodies, classified as static electricity and
electric current. Static electricity is often observed
in everyday life, when it causes certain materials to
cling together; when sufficient static charge is
accumulated, an electric current may pass through the air
between two charged bodies, and is observed as a visible
spark; when the spark passes from a human body to another
object it may be felt as a mild to strong painful
sensation. Electricity in the form of electric current is
put to many practical uses in electrical and electronic
devices. Lightning is also known to be a form of electric
current passing between clouds and the ground, or between
two clouds. Electric currents may produce heat, light,
concussion, and often chemical changes when passed between
objects or through any imperfectly conducting substance or
space. Accumulation of electrical charge or generation of
a voltage differnce between two parts of a complex object
may be caused by any of a variety of disturbances of
molecular equilibrium, whether from a chemical, physical,
or mechanical, cause. Electric current in metals and most
other solid coductors is carried by the movement of
electrons from one part of the metal to another. In ionic
solutions and in semiconductors, other types of movement
of charged particles may be responsible for the observed
electrical current.
[PJC]
Note: Electricity is manifested under following different
forms: (a)
Statical electricity, called also
Frictional electricity or Common electricity, electricity
in the condition of a stationary charge, in which the
disturbance is produced by friction, as of glass, amber,
etc., or by induction. (b)
Dynamical electricity, called also
Voltaic electricity, electricity in motion, or as a current
produced by chemical decomposition, as by means of a
voltaic battery, or by mechanical action, as by
dynamo-electric machines. (c)
Thermoelectricity, in which the disturbing cause is heat
(attended possibly with some chemical action). It is
developed by uniting two pieces of unlike metals in a bar,
and then heating the bar unequally. (d)
Atmospheric electricity, any condition of electrical
disturbance in the atmosphere or clouds, due to some or
all of the above mentioned causes. (e)
Magnetic electricity, electricity developed by the action
of magnets. (f)
Positive electricity, the electricity that appears at the
positive pole or anode of a battery, or that is produced
by friction of glass; -- called also vitreous
electricity. (g)
Negative electricity, the electricity that appears at the
negative pole or cathode, or is produced by the friction
of resinous substance; -- called also resinous
electricity. (h)
Organic electricity, that which is developed in organic
structures, either animal or vegetable, the phrase animal
electricity being much more common.
[1913 Webster]
3. The science which studies the phenomena and laws of
electricity; electrical science.
[1913 Webster]
4. Fig.: excitement, anticipation, or emotional tension,
usually caused by the occurrence or expectation of
something unusual or important.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) : [ web1913 ]
Vitreous \Vit"re*ous\, a. [L. vitreous, from vitrum glass;
perhaps akin to videre to see (see Vision). Cf. Varnish.]
1. Consisting of, or resembling, glass; glassy; as, vitreous
rocks.
2. Of or pertaining to glass; derived from glass; as,
vitreous electricity.
Vitreous body (Anat.), the vitreous humor. See the Note
under Eye.
Vitreous electricity (Elec.), the kind of electricity
excited by rubbing glass with certain substances, as silk;
positive electricity; -- opposed to resinous, or negative,
electricity.
Vitreous humor. (Anat.) See the Note under Eye.
Vitreous sponge (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of
siliceous sponges having, often fibrous, glassy spicules
which are normally six-rayed; a hexactinellid sponge. See
Venus's basket, under Venus.
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 Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) : [ web1913 ]
Electricity \E`lec*tric"i*ty\, n.; pl. Electricities. [Cf. F.
['e]lectricit['e]. See Electric.]
1. A power in nature, a manifestation of energy, exhibiting
itself when in disturbed equilibrium or in activity by a
circuit movement, the fact of direction in which involves
polarity, or opposition of properties in opposite
directions; also, by attraction for many substances, by a
law involving attraction between surfaces of unlike
polarity, and repulsion between those of like; by
exhibiting accumulated polar tension when the circuit is
broken; and by producing heat, light, concussion, and
often chemical changes when the circuit passes between the
poles or through any imperfectly conducting substance or
space. It is generally brought into action by any
disturbance of molecular equilibrium, whether from a
chemical, physical, or mechanical, cause.
Note: Electricity is manifested under following different
forms: (a)
Statical electricity, called also
Frictional or Common, electricity, electricity in the
condition of a stationary charge, in which the disturbance
is produced by friction, as of glass, amber, etc., or by
induction. (b)
Dynamical electricity, called also
Voltaic electricity, electricity in motion, or as a current
produced by chemical decomposition, as by means of a
voltaic battery, or by mechanical action, as by
dynamo-electric machines. (c)
Thermoelectricity, in which the disturbing cause is heat
(attended possibly with some chemical action). It is
developed by uniting two pieces of unlike metals in a bar,
and then heating the bar unequally. (d)
Atmospheric electricity, any condition of electrical
disturbance in the atmosphere or clouds, due to some or
all of the above mentioned causes. (e)
Magnetic electricity, electricity developed by the action
of magnets. (f)
Positive electricity, the electricity that appears at the
positive pole or anode of a battery, or that is produced
by friction of glass; -- called also vitreous
electricity. (g)
Negative electricity, the electricity that appears at the
negative pole or cathode, or is produced by the friction
of resinous substance; -- called also resinous
electricity. (h)
Organic electricity, that which is developed in organic
structures, either animal or vegetable, the phrase animal
electricity being much more common.
2. The science which unfolds the phenomena and laws of
electricity; electrical science.
3. Fig.: Electrifying energy or characteristic.
From English - German Ding/FreeDict dictionary ver. 1.9-fd1 : [ freedict:eng-deu ]
vitreous electricity /vˈɪtɹiəs ɪlɛktɹˈɪsɪti/
positive Elektrizität
see: electricity, negative electricity
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