Positive resist composition

A positive resist composition which comprises;

• an o-quinonediazide compound;
• and
• a novolac resin which is obtained by allowing a compound represented by the following formula(III) ##STR33## wherein R.sub.10 to R.sub.12 each independently represents hydrogen, alkyl having 6 or less carbon atoms, cycloalkyl having 6 or less carbon atoms, alkoxy having 6 or less carbon atoms or alkenyl having 6 or less carbon atoms, provided that at least one of R.sub.10 to R.sub.12 is cycloalkyl having 6 or less carbon atoms, and n is 1 or 2;
• or
• a compound represented by the following formula(IV):
• ##STR34## wherein R.sub.13 to R.sub.18 each independently represents hydrogen, alkyl having 6 or less carbon atoms, cycloalkyl having 6 or less carbon atoms, alkoxy having 6 or less carbon atoms or alkenyl having 6 or less carbon atoms, R.sub.19 represents hydrogen, alkyl having 6 or less carbon atoms or aryl having 10 or less carbon atoms, p and q each independently represents 1 or 2 and r represents 0 or 1,provided that at least one of R.sub.13 to R.sub.15 is cycloalkyl having 6 or less carbon atoms;
• to condensate with a phenol compound represented by the following formula(V):
• ##STR35## wherein R.sub.20 to R.sub.22 each independently represents hydrogen, alkyl having 6 or less carbon atoms, cycloalkyl having 6 or less carbon atoms, alkoxy having 6 or less carbon atoms or alkenyl having 6 or less carbon atoms and k represents 1 or 2;
• and an aldehyde(1).