Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.

            The passive air Upbore their nimble tread. --Milton.

            The mind is wholly passive in the reception of all
            its simple ideas.                     --Locke.

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

            The best virtue, passive fortitude.   --Massinger.

   3. (Chem.) Inactive; inert; not showing strong affinity; as,
      red phosphorus is comparatively passive.

   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.

   {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.

   Syn: Inactive; inert; quiescent; unresisting; unopposing;
        suffering; enduring; submissive; patient.