Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Passion \Pas"sion\, n. [F., fr. L. passio, fr. pati, passus, to
   suffer. See {Patient}.]
   1. A suffering or enduring of imposed or inflicted pain; any
      suffering or distress (as, a cardiac passion);
      specifically, the suffering of Christ between the time of
      the last supper and his death, esp. in the garden upon the
      cross. ``The passions of this time.'' --Wyclif (Rom. viii.
      18).

            To whom also he showed himself alive after his
            passion, by many infallible proofs.   --Acts i. 3.

   2. The state of being acted upon; subjection to an external
      agent or influence; a passive condition; -- opposed to
      action.

            A body at rest affords us no idea of any active
            power to move, and, when set is motion, it is rather
            a passion than an action in it.       --Locke.

   3. Capacity of being affected by external agents;
      susceptibility of impressions from external agents. [R.]

            Moldable and not moldable, scissible and not
            scissible, and many other passions of matter.
                                                  --Bacon.

   4. The state of the mind when it is powerfully acted upon and
      influenced by something external to itself; the state of
      any particular faculty which, under such conditions,
      becomes extremely sensitive or uncontrollably excited; any
      emotion or sentiment (specifically, love or anger) in a
      state of abnormal or controlling activity; an extreme or
      inordinate desire; also, the capacity or susceptibility of
      being so affected; as, to be in a passion; the passions of
      love, hate, jealously, wrath, ambition, avarice, fear,
      etc.; a passion for war, or for drink; an orator should
      have passion as well as rhetorical skill. ``A passion fond
      even to idolatry.'' --Macaulay. ``Her passion is to seek
      roses.'' --Lady M. W. Montagu.

            We also are men of like passions with you. --Acts
                                                  xiv. 15.

            The nature of the human mind can not be sufficiently
            understood, without considering the affections and
            passions, or those modifications or actions of the
            mind consequent upon the apprehension of certain
            objects or events in which the mind generally
            conceives good or evil.               --Hutcheson.

            The term passion, and its adverb passionately, often
            express a very strong predilection for any pursuit,
            or object of taste -- a kind of enthusiastic
            fondness for anything.                --Cogan.

            The bravery of his grief did put me Into a towering
            passion.                              --Shak.

            The ruling passion, be it what it will, The ruling
            passion conquers reason still.        --Pope.

            Who walked in every path of human life, Felt every
            passion.                              --Akenside.

            When statesmen are ruled by faction and interest,
            they can have no passion for the glory of their
            country.                              --Addison.

   5. Disorder of the mind; madness. [Obs.] --Shak.

   6. Passion week. See {Passion week}, below. --R. of Gl.

   {Passion flower} (Bot.), any flower or plant of the genus
      {Passiflora}; -- so named from a fancied resemblance of
      parts of the flower to the instruments of our Savior's
      crucifixion.

   Note: The flowers are showy, and the fruit is sometimes
         highly esteemed (see {Granadilla}, and {Maypop}). The
         roots and leaves are generally more or less noxious,
         and are used in medicine. The plants are mostly tendril
         climbers, and are commonest in the warmer parts of
         America, though a few species are Asiatic or
         Australian.

   {Passion music} (Mus.), originally, music set to the gospel
      narrative of the passion of our Lord; after the
      Reformation, a kind of oratorio, with narrative, chorals,
      airs, and choruses, having for its theme the passion and
      crucifixion of Christ.

   {Passion play}, a mystery play, in which the scenes connected
      with the passion of our Savior are represented
      dramatically.

   {Passion Sunday} (Eccl.), the fifth Sunday in Lent, or the
      second before Easter.

   {Passion Week}, the last week but one in Lent, or the second
      week preceding Easter. ``The name of Passion week is
      frequently, but improperly, applied to Holy Week.''
      --Shipley.

   Syn: {Passion}, {Feeling}, {Emotion}.

   Usage: When any feeling or emotion completely masters the
          mind, we call it a passion; as, a passion for music,
          dress, etc.; especially is anger (when thus extreme)
          called passion. The mind, in such cases, is considered
          as having lost its self-control, and become the
          passive instrument of the feeling in question.