Passive
WordNet
adjective
(1) Lacking in energy or will
"Much benevolence of the passive order may be traced to a disinclination to inflict pain upon oneself"- George Meredith
(2) Expressing that the subject of the sentence is the patient of the action denoted by the verb
"Academics seem to favor passive sentences"
(3) Peacefully resistant in response to injustice
"Passive resistance"
noun
(4) The voice used to indicate that the grammatical subject of the verb is the recipient (not the source) of the action denoted by the verb
"`The ball was thrown by the boy' uses the passive voice"
"`The ball was thrown' is an abbreviated passive"
WiktionaryText
Etymology
< < < , pp. ; see patient.
Adjective
- Being subjected to an action without producing a reaction.
- Taking no action.
- He remained passive during the protest.
- Being in the passive voice.
- The passive form of “A meteorite hit the earth” is “The earth was hit by a meteorite.”
- Being inactive and submissive in a relationship, especially in a sexual one.
- Not bearing interest.
- Not participating in management.
Noun
- The passive voice of verbs.
- A form of a verb that is in the passive voice.