Positive \Pos"i*tive\, a. [OE. positif, F. positif, L.
   positivus. See Position.]
   1. Having a real position, existence, or energy; existing in
      fact; real; actual; -- opposed to negative. "Positive
      good." --Bacon.
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   2. Derived from an object by itself; not dependent on
      changing circumstances or relations; absolute; -- opposed
      to relative; as, the idea of beauty is not positive, but
      depends on the different tastes individuals.
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   3. Definitely laid down; explicitly stated; clearly
      expressed; -- opposed to implied; as, a positive
      declaration or promise.
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            Positive words, that he would not bear arms against
            King Edward's son.                    --Bacon.
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   4. Hence: Not admitting of any doubt, condition,
      qualification, or discretion; not dependent on
      circumstances or probabilities; not speculative;
      compelling assent or obedience; peremptory; indisputable;
      decisive; as, positive instructions; positive truth;
      positive proof. "'T is positive 'gainst all exceptions."
      --Shak.
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   5. Prescribed by express enactment or institution; settled by
      arbitrary appointment; said of laws.
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            In laws, that which is natural bindeth universally;
            that which is positive, not so.       --Hooker.
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   6. Fully assured; confident; certain; sometimes,
      overconfident; dogmatic; overbearing; -- said of persons.
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            Some positive, persisting fops we know,
            That, if once wrong, will needs be always. --Pope.
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   7. Having the power of direct action or influence; as, a
      positive voice in legislation. --Swift.
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   8. (Photog.) Corresponding with the original in respect to
      the position of lights and shades, instead of having the
      lights and shades reversed; as, a positive picture.
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   9. (Chem.)
      (a) Electro-positive.
      (b) Hence, basic; metallic; not acid; -- opposed to
          negative, and said of metals, bases, and basic
          radicals.
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   10. (Mach. & Mech.)
       (a) Designating, or pertaining to, a motion or device in
           which the movement derived from a driver, or the grip
           or hold of a restraining piece, is communicated
           through an unyielding intermediate piece or pieces;
           as, a claw clutch is a positive clutch, while a
           friction clutch is not.
       (b) Designating, or pertaining to, a device giving a
           to-and-fro motion; as, a positive dobby.
           [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

   11. (Vehicles) Designating a method of steering or turning in
       which the steering wheels move so that they describe
       concentric arcs in making a turn, to insure freedom from
       side slip or harmful resistance.
       [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

   Positive crystals (Opt.), a doubly refracting crystal in
      which the index of refraction for the extraordinary ray is
      greater than for the ordinary ray, and the former is
      refracted nearer to the axis than the latter, as quartz
      and ice; -- opposed to negative crystal, or one in which
      this characteristic is reversed, as Iceland spar,
      tourmaline, etc.

   Positive degree (Gram.), that state of an adjective or
      adverb which denotes simple quality, without comparison or
      relation to increase or diminution; as, wise, noble.

   Positive electricity (Elec), the kind of electricity which
      is developed when glass is rubbed with silk, or which
      appears at that pole of a voltaic battery attached to the
      plate that is not attacked by the exciting liquid; --
      formerly called vitreous electricity; -- opposed to
      negative electricity.

   Positive eyepiece. See under Eyepiece.

   Positive law. See Municipal law, under Law.

   Positive motion (Mach.), motion which is derived from a
      driver through unyielding intermediate pieces, or by
      direct contact, and not through elastic connections, nor
      by means of friction, gravity, etc.; definite motion.

   Positive philosophy. See Positivism.

   Positive pole.
       (a) (Elec.) The pole of a battery or pile which yields
           positive or vitreous electricity; -- opposed to
           negative pole.
       (b) (Magnetism) The north pole. [R.]

   Positive quantity (Alg.), an affirmative quantity, or one
      affected by the sign plus [+].

   Positive rotation (Mech.), left-handed rotation.

   Positive sign (Math.), the sign [+] denoting plus, or more,
      or addition.
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Vitreous \Vit"re*ous\, a. [L. vitreous, from vitrum glass;
   perhaps akin to videre to see (see Vision). Cf. Varnish.]
   1. Consisting of, or resembling, glass; glassy; as, vitreous
      rocks.
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   2. Of or pertaining to glass; derived from glass; as,
      vitreous electricity.
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   Vitreous body (Anat.), the vitreous humor. See the Note
      under Eye.

   Vitreous electricity (Elec.), the kind of electricity
      excited by rubbing glass with certain substances, as silk;
      positive electricity; -- opposed to resinous, or negative,
      electricity.

   Vitreous humor. (Anat.) See the Note under Eye.

   Vitreous sponge (Zool.), any one of numerous species of
      siliceous sponges having, often fibrous, glassy spicules
      which are normally six-rayed; a hexactinellid sponge. See
      Venus's basket, under Venus.
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Electricity \E`lec*tric"i*ty\ ([=e]`l[e^]k*tr[i^]s"[i^]*t[y^]),
   n.; pl. Electricities ([=e]`l[e^]k*tr[i^]s"[i^]*t[i^]z).
   [Cf. F. ['e]lectricit['e]. See Electric.]
   1. (Physics) a property of certain of the fundamental
      particles of which matter is composed, called also
      electric charge, and being of two types, designated
      positive and negative; the property of electric charge on
      a particle or physical body creates a force field which
      affects other particles or bodies possessing electric
      charge; positive charges create a repulsive force between
      them, and negative charges also create a repulsive force.
      A positively charged body and a negatively charged body
      will create an attractive force between them. The unit of
      electrical charge is the coulomb, and the intensity of
      the force field at any point is measured in volts.
      [PJC]

   2. any of several phenomena associated with the accumulation
      or movement of electrically charged particles within
      material bodies, classified as static electricity and
      electric current. Static electricity is often observed
      in everyday life, when it causes certain materials to
      cling together; when sufficient static charge is
      accumulated, an electric current may pass through the air
      between two charged bodies, and is observed as a visible
      spark; when the spark passes from a human body to another
      object it may be felt as a mild to strong painful
      sensation. Electricity in the form of electric current is
      put to many practical uses in electrical and electronic
      devices. Lightning is also known to be a form of electric
      current passing between clouds and the ground, or between
      two clouds. Electric currents may produce heat, light,
      concussion, and often chemical changes when passed between
      objects or through any imperfectly conducting substance or
      space. Accumulation of electrical charge or generation of
      a voltage differnce between two parts of a complex object
      may be caused by any of a variety of disturbances of
      molecular equilibrium, whether from a chemical, physical,
      or mechanical, cause. Electric current in metals and most
      other solid coductors is carried by the movement of
      electrons from one part of the metal to another. In ionic
      solutions and in semiconductors, other types of movement
      of charged particles may be responsible for the observed
      electrical current.
      [PJC]

   Note: Electricity is manifested under following different
         forms: (a)

   Statical electricity, called also

   Frictional electricity or Common electricity, electricity
      in the condition of a stationary charge, in which the
      disturbance is produced by friction, as of glass, amber,
      etc., or by induction. (b)

   Dynamical electricity, called also

   Voltaic electricity, electricity in motion, or as a current
      produced by chemical decomposition, as by means of a
      voltaic battery, or by mechanical action, as by
      dynamo-electric machines. (c)

   Thermoelectricity, in which the disturbing cause is heat
      (attended possibly with some chemical action). It is
      developed by uniting two pieces of unlike metals in a bar,
      and then heating the bar unequally. (d)

   Atmospheric electricity, any condition of electrical
      disturbance in the atmosphere or clouds, due to some or
      all of the above mentioned causes. (e)

   Magnetic electricity, electricity developed by the action
      of magnets. (f)

   Positive electricity, the electricity that appears at the
      positive pole or anode of a battery, or that is produced
      by friction of glass; -- called also vitreous
      electricity. (g)

   Negative electricity, the electricity that appears at the
      negative pole or cathode, or is produced by the friction
      of resinous substance; -- called also resinous
      electricity. (h)

   Organic electricity, that which is developed in organic
      structures, either animal or vegetable, the phrase animal
      electricity being much more common.
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   3. The science which studies the phenomena and laws of
      electricity; electrical science.
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   4. Fig.: excitement, anticipation, or emotional tension,
      usually caused by the occurrence or expectation of
      something unusual or important.