/ ˈpæsɪv; NAmE / adjective , noun
■ adjective
1.
accepting what happens or what people do without trying to change anything or oppose them :
He played a passive role in the relationship.
a passive observer of events
2.
( grammar ) connected with the form of a verb used when the subject is affected by the action of the verb, for example He was bitten by a dog. is a passive sentence
—compare active
► pas·sive·ly adverb
■ noun
(also ˌpassive ˈvoice ) [ sing. ] ( grammar ) the form of a verb used when the subject is affected by the action of the verb
—compare active
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in sense 2, also in the sense (exposed to) suffering, acted on by an external agency ): from Latin passivus , from pass- suffered, from the verb pati .