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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Passive \Pas"sive\, a. [L. passivus: cf. F. passif. See
{Passion}.]
1. Not active, but acted upon; suffering or receiving
impressions or influences; as, they were passive
spectators, not actors in the scene.
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The passive air
Upbore their nimble tread. --Milton.
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The mind is wholly passive in the reception of all
its simple ideas. --Locke.
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2. Receiving or enduring without either active sympathy or
active resistance; without emotion or excitement; patient;
not opposing; unresisting; as, passive obedience; passive
submission.
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The best virtue, passive fortitude. --Massinger.
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3. (Chem.) Inactive; inert; unreactive; not showing strong
affinity; as, red phosphorus is comparatively passive.
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4. (Med.) Designating certain morbid conditions, as
hemorrhage or dropsy, characterized by relaxation of the
vessels and tissues, with deficient vitality and lack of
reaction in the affected tissues.
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{Passive congestion} (Med.), congestion due to obstruction to
the return of the blood from the affected part.

{Passive iron} (Chem.), iron which has been subjected to the
action of heat, of strong nitric acid, chlorine, etc. It
is then not easily acted upon by acids.

{Passive movement} (Med.), a movement of a part, in order to
exercise it, made without the assistance of the muscles
which ordinarily move the part.

{Passive obedience} (as used by writers on government),
obedience or submission of the subject or citizen as a
duty in all cases to the existing government.

{Passive prayer}, among mystic divines, a suspension of the
activity of the soul or intellectual faculties, the soul
remaining quiet, and yielding only to the impulses of
grace.

{Passive verb}, or {Passive voice} (Gram.), a verb, or form
of a verb, which expresses the effect of the action of
some agent; as, in Latin, doceor, I am taught; in English,
she is loved; the picture is admired by all; he is
assailed by slander.
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Syn: Inactive; inert; quiescent; unresisting; unopposing;
suffering; enduring; submissive; patient.
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