2 meanings, 3 uses
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1 —2 uses as in:
I'm absolutely positive!
Definition
certain (having no doubt; or used for emphasis)
- He seemed positively diabolic in his enjoyment of our discomfort.p. 228.5
positively = absolutely (used for emphasis)
- Ever since we read The Fall of the House of Usher, we had made a pact that neither of us would allow the other to be buried without making "absolutely, positively sure" (his favorite phrase) that the person was dead.p. 196.1
positively = with certainty
There are no more uses of "positive" flagged with this meaning in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
Typical Usage
(best examples)
2 —1 use as in:
a positive attitude
Definition
optimistic (expecting or focusing good things); or agreeable
- Translated, that meant there was nothing a person can't do, and there should be nothing a human being didn't care about. It was the most positive encouragement I could have hoped for.p. 265.9
positive = optimistic
There are no more uses of "positive" flagged with this meaning in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
Typical Usage
(best examples)