passive
Meanings
Plural: passives
Noun
- 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"
- The passive voice of verbs.
- A form of a verb that is in the passive voice.
- A customer who is satisfied with a product or service, but not keen enough to promote it by word of mouth.
- Any component that consumes but does not produce energy, or is incapable of power gain.
- Ellipsis of passive attack.
- A thing whose worth decreases with time.
Adjective
- lacking in energy or will; - George Meredith
- "Much benevolence of the passive order may be traced to a disinclination to inflict pain upon oneself"
- expressing that the subject of the sentence is the patient of the action denoted by the verb
- "academics seem to favor passive sentences"
Adjective Satellite
- peacefully resistant in response to injustice
- "passive resistance"
Adj
- Being subjected to an action without producing a reaction.
- Taking no action.
- Being in the passive voice.
- Being inactive and submissive in a relationship, especially in a sexual one.
- Not participating in management.
- Without motive power.
- Of a component: that consumes but does not produce energy, or is incapable of power gain.
- Where allowance is made for a possible future event.
Origin / Etymology
From Middle English passyf, passyve, from Middle French, French passif, from Latin passivus (“serving to express the suffering of an action; in late Latin literally capable of suffering or feeling”), from passus, past participle of pati (“to suffer”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *peh₁- (“to hurt”); compare patient.
Synonyms
disinterested, idle, inactive, passive voice, peaceful, uninvolved
Antonyms
active, active voice, aggressive
Scrabble Score: 12
passive is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL wordpassive is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
passive is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary