All 8 Uses of
positive
in
Freakonomics
- It tends to be cold outside when it snows; those two factors are positively correlated.†
p. 163.5 *positively = with certainty
- We all learn to respond to incentives, negative and positive, from the outset of life.†
p. 16.7
- High-stakes testing also presents teachers with some positive incentives.†
p. 23.9
- Five of them have a strong positive correlation to the ultimate sale price, and five have a strong negative correlation.†
p. 71.4
- Coupled with the above-cited leniency in the other half of the criminal justice system, the courtrooms, this decrease in policing created a strong positive incentive for criminals.†
p. 126.2
- There are even more correlations, positive and negative, that shore up the abortion-crime link.†
p. 141.9
- According to the ECLS data, eight of the factors show a strong correlation—positive or negative—with test scores.†
p. 168.6
- Let's start with the positive correlation: books in the home equal higher test scores.†
p. 175.3
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 on 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
indicating the presence of something being tested for -- especially a disease, condition, or substance -
(6)
(positive as in: a positive number) greater than zero (of a number)
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(7)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) 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.