Positive Non-Positive
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Privative Negative

If this division be extended, as it sometimes is, to terms in general,
a positive term must be taken to mean only the definite, or
comparatively definite, member of an exhaustive division in accordance
with the law of excluded middle ( 25). Thus 'Socrates' and 'man' are
positive, as opposed to 'not-Socrates' and 'not-man.'

127. The chief value of the division, however, and especially of the
distinction drawn between privative and negative terms, is in relation
to attributives.

From this point of view we may define the three classes of terms as
follows:

A Positive Term signifies the presence of an attribute, e.g.: 'wise,'
'full.'

A Negative Term signifies merely the absence of an attribute,
e.g. 'not-wise,' 'not-full.'

A Privative Term signifies the absence of an attribute in a subject
capable of possessing it, e.g. 'unwise,' 'empty'. [Footnote: A
privative term is usually defined to mean one which signifies the
absence of an attribute where it was once possessed, or might have
been expected to be present, e.g. 'blind.' The utility of the slight
extension of meaning here assigned to the expression will, it is