All 9 Uses of
positive
in
To Kill a Mockingbird
- One evening we were privileged to witness a performance by him which seemed to have been his positively last, for he never did it again so long as we watched.
p. 57.2positively = absolutely (used for emphasis)
- Today was Sunday, and Aunt Alexandra was positively irritable on the Lord's Day.
p. 145.8
- (he was now positively allergic to my presence when in public)
p. 153.2
- "I most positively was," said Mr. Ewell.
p. 199.7positively = certainly (used for emphasis)
- I most positively can.
p. 201.2
- I most positively will.
p. 201.2
- I most positively am not, I can use one hand good as the other.
p. 202.4
- "I positively did," Mayella echoed her father.
p. 206.1positively = absolutely (used for emphasis)
- You are positive that he took full advantage of you?
p. 206.2 *positive = certain
Definitions:
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(1)
(positive as in: I'm absolutely positive!) certain (having no doubt; or used for emphasis)
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(2)
(positive as in: had a positive effect) good or beneficial
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(3)
(positive as in: positive feedback from my boss) approval or agreement
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(4)
(positive as in: a positive attitude) optimistic (expecting or focusing good things); or agreeable
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(5)
(positive as in: The test came back positive.) found a condition or substance to be present
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(6)
(positive as in: a positive number) greater than zero (of a number)
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(7)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) See a comprehensive dictionary for less common meanings of positive including some in the fields of electricity, physics, chemistry, medicine, philosophy, and grammar. Note that most all senses of positive indicate that something is good or present.