All 27 Uses of
positive
in
Nicholas Nickleby
- Sir Matthew Pupker takes the chair, and three members of Parliament are positively coming.
Chpt 2positively = absolutely (used for emphasis)
- Upon these instructions Nicholas made the pen; when he gave it to Miss Squeers, Miss Squeers dropped it; and when he stooped to pick it up, Miss Squeers stopped also, and they knocked their heads together; whereat five-and-twenty little boys laughed aloud: being positively for the first and only time that half-year.†
Chpt 9
- It's positive indelicate.'†
Chpt 12
- Aghast and stupefied by the boldness of the interference, Squeers released his hold of Smike, and, falling back a pace or two, gazed upon Nicholas with looks that were positively frightful.
Chpt 13positively = absolutely (used for emphasis)
- 'Everybody is talking about her,' said the young lady, in the same careless manner; 'and my lord, being a great admirer of beauty, must positively see her.'
Chpt 18
- 'Nay, you bad man, you positively shall go first; I wouldn't leave you behind with that pretty girl, not for half a second.
Chpt 18positively = with certainty; or absolutely (used for emphasis)
- 'It is not in my nature,' said Nicholas, moved by these appeals, 'to resist any entreaty, unless it is to do something positively wrong; and, beyond a feeling of pride, I know nothing which should prevent my doing this.
Chpt 24positively = absolutely (used for emphasis)
- I'm almost ashamed to look you in the face afterwards, positively I am,' said Miss Snevellicci, seizing the book and putting it away in a closet.†
Chpt 24
- 'Now Led, my dear, we must positively get her ready, or we shall be too late, we shall indeed.'
Chpt 25positively = absolutely (used for emphasis)
- 'You positively must,' urged Pluck.
Chpt 27 *
- 'And I'll tell you what,' said Mr Pyke; 'if you'll send round to the public-house for a pot of milk half-and-half, positively and actually I'll drink it.'†
Chpt 27
- And positively and actually Mr Pyke DID drink it, and Mr Pluck helped him, while Mrs Nickleby looked on in divided admiration of the condescension of the two, and the aptitude with which they accommodated themselves to the pewter-pot; in explanation of which seeming marvel it may be here observed, that gentlemen who, like Messrs Pyke and Pluck, live upon their wits (or not so much, perhaps, upon the presence of their own wits as upon the absence of wits in other people) are…†
Chpt 27
- 'Yes, I am positive about that, because I recollect I was in the family way with my son Nicholas at the time, and I had been very much frightened by an Italian image boy that very morning.
Chpt 27positive = certain
- We'll have posters out the first thing in the morning, announcing positively your last appearance for tomorrow.'†
Chpt 30
- 'We can have positively your last appearance, on Thursday—re-engagement for one night more, on Friday—and, yielding to the wishes of numerous influential patrons, who were disappointed in obtaining seats, on Saturday.
Chpt 30positively = with certainty; or absolutely (used for emphasis)
- Grafted upon the quaintness and oddity of his appearance, was something so indescribably engaging, and bespeaking so much worth, and there were so many little lights hovering about the corners of his mouth and eyes, that it was not a mere amusement, but a positive pleasure and delight to look at him.†
Chpt 35
- But before he had said a dozen words, Mrs Nickleby, with many sly winks and nods, observed, that she was sure Mr Smike must be quite tired out, and that she positively must insist on his not sitting up a minute longer.
Chpt 37positively = absolutely (used for emphasis)
- 'No, it an't,' said Newman, shaking his head with great positiveness.†
Chpt 40
- 'Kate,' observed Mrs Nickleby, turning to her daughter, 'it's very awkward, positively.†
Chpt 41
- CHAPTER 48 Being for the Benefit of Mr Vincent Crummles, and positively his last Appearance on this Stage It was with a very sad and heavy heart, oppressed by many painful ideas, that Nicholas retraced his steps eastward and betook himself to the counting-house of Cheeryble Brothers.†
Chpt 48
- He glanced at the top of the bill, with a smile at his own dulness, as he prepared to resume his walk, and there saw announced, in large letters with a large space between each of them, 'Positively the last appearance of Mr Vincent Crummles of Provincial Celebrity!†
Chpt 48
- …of the unrivalled African Knife-swallower, who had kindly suffered himself to be prevailed upon to forego his country engagements for one week longer; a fourth line announced that Mr Snittle Timberry, having recovered from his late severe indisposition, would have the honour of appearing that evening; a fifth line said that there were 'Cheers, Tears, and Laughter!' every night; a sixth, that that was positively the last appearance of Mr Vincent Crummles of Provincial Celebrity.
Chpt 48positively = absolutely (used for emphasis)
- 'He said very positively that it was no such thing, mama,' returned Kate.
Chpt 49positively = with certainty; or absolutely (used for emphasis)
- Mr Charles Cheeryble, indeed, Mrs Nickleby positively asserted, had, in the first transports of his surprise and delight, 'as good as' said so.†
Chpt 55
- Satisfied that he was right in his original conjecture, he applied himself to calming the fears of Smike, which, after some time, he partially succeeded in doing, though not in removing the impression upon his mind; for he still declared, again and again, in the most solemn and fervid manner, that he had positively seen what he had described, and that nothing could ever remove his conviction of its reality.
Chpt 58positively = absolutely (used for emphasis)
- The robbery, partly owing to the inquisitiveness of the neighbours, and partly to his own grief and rage, had, long ago, become known; but he positively refused to give his sanction or yield any assistance to the old woman's capture, and was seized with such a panic at the idea of being called upon to give evidence against her, that he shut himself up close in his house, and refused to hold communication with anybody.
Chpt 59
- It was evident that he was rendered restless and uncomfortable by the presence of the unseen person; for he repeated this action several times, and at length, as if in a nervous state which rendered him positively unable to turn away from the place, sat so as to have it opposite him, muttering as an excuse that he could not bear the light.†
Chpt 60
Definition:
-
(positive as in: I'm absolutely positive!) certain (having no doubt; or used for emphasis)