The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
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.
[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] Passive balloon