All 6 Uses of
positive
in
Heart of Darkness
- The voice of the surf heard now and then was a positive pleasure, like the speech of a brother.†
Chpt 1
- I looked at them with a swift quickening of interest—not because it occurred to me I might be eaten by them before very long, though I own to you that just then I perceived—in a new light, as it were—how unwholesome the pilgrims looked, and I hoped, yes, I positively hoped, that my aspect was not so—what shall I say?
Chpt 2positively = with certainty; or absolutely (used for emphasis)
- He positively danced, the bloodthirsty little gingery beggar.
Chpt 2 *
- After all, that was only a savage sight, while I seemed at one bound to have been transported into some lightless region of subtle horrors, where pure, uncomplicated savagery was a positive relief, being something that had a right to exist—obviously—in the sunshine.†
Chpt 3
- It seemed to me I had never breathed an atmosphere so vile, and I turned mentally to Kurtz for relief—positively for relief.†
Chpt 3
- This lasted of course the merest fraction of a second, and then the usual sense of commonplace, deadly danger, the possibility of a sudden onslaught and massacre, or something of the kind, which I saw impending, was positively welcome and composing.
Chpt 3positively = absolutely (used for emphasis)
Definition:
-
(positive as in: I'm absolutely positive!) certain (having no doubt; or used for emphasis)