What's the difference between positive and uncertain?

Positive


Definition:

  • (a.) Having a real position, existence, or energy; existing in fact; real; actual; -- opposed to negative.
  • (a.) 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.
  • (a.) Definitely laid down; explicitly stated; clearly expressed; -- opposed to implied; as, a positive declaration or promise.
  • (a.) 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.
  • (a.) Prescribed by express enactment or institution; settled by arbitrary appointment; said of laws.
  • (a.) Fully assured; confident; certain; sometimes, overconfident; dogmatic; overbearing; -- said of persons.
  • (a.) Having the power of direct action or influence; as, a positive voice in legislation.
  • (a.) 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.
  • (a.) Electro-positive.
  • (a.) Hence, basic; metallic; not acid; -- opposed to negative, and said of metals, bases, and basic radicals.
  • (n.) That which is capable of being affirmed; reality.
  • (n.) That which settles by absolute appointment.
  • (n.) The positive degree or form.
  • (n.) A picture in which the lights and shades correspond in position with those of the original, instead of being reversed, as in a negative.
  • (n.) The positive plate of a voltaic or electrolytic cell.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) The bank tellers who saw their positions filled by male superiors took special pleasure in going to the bank and keeping them busy.
  • (2) In each sheep there was a significant negative correlation between the glucose and corticosteroid concentrations in both maternal and fetal plasma, and there were positive correlations between the maternal and fetal plasma concentrations of glucose, and between the glucose and fructose concentrations of fetal plasma.
  • (3) None of the strains was found to be positive for cytotoxic enterotoxin in the GM1-ELISA.
  • (4) The patterns observed were: clusters of granules related to the cell membrane; positive staining localized to portions of the cell membrane, and, less commonly, the whole cell circumference.
  • (5) In 49 cases undergoing systemic lymphadenectomy 32 were found to have glandular involvement, of which both aortic and pelvic nodes were positive in 17 cases (53.1%), aortic nodes positive but pelvic negative in six (18.8%), and pelvic nodes positive but aortic negative in nine (28.1%).
  • (6) The Na+ ionophore, gramicidin, had a small but significant inhibitory effect on Na(+)-dependent KG uptake, demonstrating that KG uptake was not the result of an intravesicular positive Na+ diffusion potential.
  • (7) Fecal occult blood was positive in 4 patients and fecal leukocytes were positive in one patient.
  • (8) We have determined the genomic structure of the fosB gene and shown that it consists of 4 exons and 3 introns at positions also found in the c-fos gene.
  • (9) An unsaturated fatty acid auxotroph of Escherichia coli was grown with a series of cis-octadecenoate isomers in which the location of the double bond varied from positions 3 to 17.
  • (10) It is concluded that amlodipine reduces myocardial ischemic injury by mechanism(s) that may involve a reduction in myocardial oxygen demand as well as by positively influencing transmembrane Ca2+ fluxes during ischemia and reperfusion.
  • (11) Stimulation is also observed with mixtures of APC expressing DPw3 and APC expressing A1, and likewise, DPw3+ APC become stimulatory when preincubated with supernatants from A1-positive cells.
  • (12) Nine of 14 patients studied for documented clinical relapse had positive repeat studies.
  • (13) Ca2+ transport was positively correlated with MR cell density.
  • (14) At pH 7.0, reduction is complete after 6 to 10 h. These results together with an earlier study concerning the positions of the two most readily reduced bonds (Cornell J.S., and Pierce, J.G.
  • (15) A quadripolar catheter was positioned either at the site of earliest ventricular activation during induced monomorphic ventricular tachycardia or at circumscribed areas of the left ventricle.
  • (16) Fifteen sera ICA-IgG and ICA-protein A positive with high titres remained positive thereafter.
  • (17) These data indicate that RNA faithfully transfers "suppressive" as well as "positive" types of immune responses that have been reported previously for lymphocytes obtained directly from tumour-bearing and tumour-immune animals.
  • (18) Induction of labor, based upon only (1) a finding of meconium in the amniocentesis group or (2) a positive test in the OCT group, was nearly three times more frequent in the amniocentesis group.
  • (19) Mike Ashley told Lee Charnley that maybe he could talk with me last week but I said: ‘Listen, we cannot say too much so I think it’s better if we wait.’ The message Mike Ashley is sending is quite positive, but it was better to talk after we play Tottenham.” Benítez will ask Ashley for written assurances over his transfer budget, control of transfers and other spheres of club autonomy, but can also reassure the owner that the prospect of managing in the second tier holds few fears for him.
  • (20) When subjects centered themselves actively, or additionally, contracted trunk flexor or extensor muscles to predetermined levels of activity, no increase in trunk positioning accuracy was found.

Uncertain


Definition:

  • (a.) Not certain; not having certain knowledge; not assured in mind; distrustful.
  • (a.) Irresolute; inconsonant; variable; untrustworthy; as, an uncertain person; an uncertain breeze.
  • (a.) Questionable; equivocal; indefinite; problematical.
  • (a.) Not sure; liable to fall or err; fallible.
  • (a.) To make uncertain.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) However, the mechanism of the inhibitory action is still somewhat uncertain.
  • (2) Of course the job is not done and we will continue to remain vigilant to all risks, particularly when the global economic situation is so uncertain,” the chancellor said in a statement.
  • (3) The functional significance of these early changes in the nodal region is uncertain.
  • (4) Preservation of dopaminergic and H1 neurotransmission, probably within the blood barrier, is needed to allow the neuroendocrine transduction of cholinergic inputs, whereas the role of 5-HT neurotransmission remains uncertain.
  • (5) The nature of these infiltrative foci remains uncertain; however, they are unlikely to have been of neoplastic origin and may be due to interleukin-2-induced lymphocytic infiltration.
  • (6) Whether or not any alteration in disease progression will accrue from demonstrated local downstaging is, of course, uncertain.
  • (7) Similarly, it appears that acute hydronephrosis or worsening of an existing hydronephrosis has been somewhat overlooked as a possible cause of uncertain abdominal pain during pregnancy.
  • (8) In 11 patients, the electrophysiological mechanism remained uncertain.
  • (9) The nature of the cystatin C-immunoreactive substance in some of these vascular lesions is uncertain, but it might conceivably play an additional important role in the pathogenesis of brain hemorrhage in these cases.
  • (10) The mechanism of action is still uncertain but it is believed by some workers to be similar to that of a beta-adrenergic stimulator.
  • (11) Assays of drug levels in blood and of other biochemical characteristics of psychiatric patients are being proposed for clinical application, although their utility in practice remains uncertain.
  • (12) In 26 patients, including the two reported here, etiology was uncertain (idiopathic aneurysm of the left ventricle) in as much as malformation or an infectious disease might have been the underlying cause.
  • (13) Instead of inevitable defeat there is uncertain cop-out.
  • (14) The aetiology remains at present uncertain and therefore rational therapeutic strategies are difficult to plan.
  • (15) It was concluded that (1) there is a group of patients whose histories of poliomyelitis are uncertain, and (2) the lack of clear evidence for previous denervation after extensive electrodiagnostic testing is a valid means for excluding the diagnosis of postpoliomyelitis syndrome.
  • (16) Although approximately 24,000 adolescents were questioned, the investigations together provide an uncertain picture of the habits as these are not representative for Danish adolescents.
  • (17) McCall said the outlook remained uncertain: “The economic and operating environment remains uncertain, following the high levels of disruption and more recently the UK’s referendum decision to leave the EU, as well as the recent events in Turkey and Nice, which have affected consumer confidence.
  • (18) The significance of this event is uncertain; cleaved NGF demonstrates bioactivity and no function has been attributed to the octapeptide produced (NGF-OP; Ser-Ser-Thr-His-Pro-Val-Phe-His).
  • (19) While the histogenesis of these tumors remain uncertain, it is necessary to recognize that these aggressive neoplasms may occur primarily in the skin.
  • (20) Estimates of the number of eventual TA-AIDS cases to be seen are considerably more uncertain and require additional assumptions about the incubation distribution.