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positive

positive

5 7.2
Formally made and set by a government or official body
  • adjective
  • /ˈpɒzɪtɪv/
  • Formal
translation icon : positivo
  • But there are, in addition to negative duties and their corresponding rights, certain positive duties.
  • positive law
  • positive obligations
  • positive rights

Examples

  • Litigation losses should be viewed as confirmation that the Commission is pursuing a positive rulemaking agenda.

    Academic text (2016)
  • We appeal to natural law when the positive or actual law is thought to be morally wrong.

    Academic text (2018)
  • Theories of legal interpretation have taken a "positive turn" in recent years.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Simply erasing the positive legal structures that supported them was not enough.

    Academic text (2017)
  • There are both normative and positive reasons to believe that child labor is unacceptable.

    Academic text (2001)
  • Findings have consistently shown a positive relationship between efficacy expectations and performance.

    Academic text (1992)
  • In the sphere of ethics, law as natural law assumes a positive role that is applicable to both church and society.

    Academic text (2018)
  • The constitutionality of cross-enforcement therefore hinged on whether positive law had authorized the New York officers to make the arrest.

    Academic text (2018)
  • Enright based this instrument on the positive justice model put forth by Damon (1975).

    Academic text (2007)
  • In the legal system, judges must adhere to positive laws that are enacted by the legislature.

Synonyms

prescribed
vspositive
  • Formal
4.4

An official rule or authority sets what must be done

is formally laid down by human authority rather than stemming from natural principles
imposed
vspositive
  • Formal
4.1

A person or group sets rules that people must follow

is laid down by authority without necessarily implying force

Antonyms

natural law
  • Formal
26 6.5

A set of moral rules that come from human nature and apply to everyone

Compounds

A way of thinking that is hopeful and looks for solutions

A result that is good or wanted

positive energy
  • Informal
9 3.5

A hopeful, friendly feeling that makes people feel happy and active

Clear proof that a person is who they say they are

Comments that praise or encourage someone's work

positive feedback
  • Specialized
4 4.3

A process where a small change causes larger changes in a system

positive charge
  • Specialized
2 3.9

An electrical state when an object has fewer electrons than protons

When one thing goes up or down, the other goes the same way

An account that has more money in it than you have taken out

Rh positive
  • Specialized
1 4.6

Having the Rh factor on the surface of red blood cells

positive economics
  • Specialized
1 6.3

Part of economics that describes, explains, and predicts how the economy works without giving opinions

4.1

A blood group whose red blood cells have the Rh factor, common in most people

positive chemotaxis
  • Specialized
7.9

Movement of a cell toward a stronger chemical signal

positive adverb
  • Specialized
7.4

An adverb that shows a simple way something happens, not a comparison

positive degree
  • Specialized
5.7

The base form of an adjective or adverb that shows a quality without comparison

6.0

The end of a magnet that points toward the north when it hangs freely

positive muon
  • Specialized
9.9

A small particle with positive electric charge that turns into other tiny particles

positive pole
  • Specialized
3.5

A battery terminal marked with a plus sign that connects to the red wire

9.1

To hide facts or give false information on purpose to cheat someone

positive pole
  • Specialized
4.4

The end of a magnet that points north when the magnet hangs freely

positive reinforcer
  • Specialized
4.5

A thing given after a behavior that makes it more likely to happen again

Something pleasant that someone gives after a behavior to make it happen again

positive stimulus
  • Specialized
4.6

Something like praise or a reward that makes someone do something again

6.8

A word that shows how something is done without comparison

How Binding

positive
  • Formal
5 7.2
statute
  • Formal
234 5.5
natural law
  • Formal
26 6.5
custom
148 1.3
opinion
1.0

Surface Forms

positive positive
positiver comparative
positivest superlative

Morphology

positive = posit (opaque) = posit + ive

The legal sense 'formally laid down by human authority' is a specialized meaning that cannot be derived from the base 'posit' by an average learner.

Etymology

Positive law takes its name from the Latin root posit- from ponere 'to put', meaning laws that are 'put down' or made by people. So positive law is law that is formally laid down by authorities rather than being a natural rule.