transitive

a. [ L. transitivus: cf. F. transitif. See Transient. ] 1. Having the power of making a transit, or passage. [ R. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Effected by transference of signification. [ 1913 Webster ]

By far the greater part of the transitive or derivative applications of words depend on casual and unaccountable caprices of the feelings or the fancy. Stewart. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Gram.) Passing over to an object; expressing an action which is not limited to the agent or subject, but which requires an object to complete the sense; as, a transitive verb, for example, he holds the book. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Tran"si*tive*ly, adv. -- Tran"si*tive*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]