passive has definitions from the fields of grammar,linguistics
1
[ adjective ] lacking in energy or will

Synonyms

inactive

Examples

"Much benevolence of the passive order may be traced to a disinclination to inflict pain upon oneself"- George Meredith

Used in print

(Irving Stone, The Agony and the Ecstasy....)

Jesus ' inert body would be passive , his eyes closed .

(Guy Bolton, The Olympians....)

To be passive , to be girlishly shy was palpably absurd .

2
[ adjective ] peacefully resistant in response to injustice

Synonyms

peaceful

Examples

"passive resistance"

Used in print

(Bruce Palmer, "My Brother's Keeper", Many Are...)

He had reached the three passive guards ; he crept in an incertain manner , patting the ground before him .

Related terms

nonviolent

3
[ adjective ] (grammar) passive voice, expressing that the subject of the sentence is the patient of the action denoted by the verb

Examples

"academics seem to favor passive sentences"

Related terms

active grammar

4
[ noun ] (grammar,linguistics) 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

Synonyms

passive_voice

Examples

"`The ball was thrown by the boy' uses the passive voice" "`The ball was thrown' is an abbreviated passive"

Related terms

active_voice voice

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