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. [ 1913 Webster ]

The passive air
Upbore their nimble tread. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

The mind is wholly passive in the reception of all its simple ideas. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Receiving or enduring without either active sympathy or active resistance; without emotion or excitement; patient; not opposing; unresisting; as, passive obedience; passive submission. [ 1913 Webster ]

The best virtue, passive fortitude. Massinger. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Chem.) Inactive; inert; unreactive; not showing strong affinity; as, red phosphorus is comparatively passive. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Inactive; inert; quiescent; unresisting; unopposing; suffering; enduring; submissive; patient. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ or }. One unprovided with motive power. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. Flight, such as gliding and soaring, accomplished without the use of motive power. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

adv. 1. In a passive manner; inertly; unresistingly. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. As a passive verb; in the passive voice. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being passive; unresisting submission. [ 1913 Webster ]

To be an effect implies passiveness, or the being subject to the power and action of its cause. J. Edwards. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The doctrine that all violence is unjustifiable; hence, the principle of passive resistance. [ wns=1 ]
Syn. -- pacifism. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. The quality of being passive. [ PJC ]

n. [ Cf. F. passivité. ] 1. Passiveness; -- opposed to activity. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Physics) The tendency of a body to remain in a given state, either of motion or rest, till disturbed by another body; inertia. Cheyne. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Chem.) The quality or condition of any substance which has no inclination to chemical activity; inactivity. [ 1913 Webster ]