I. ˈtran(t)səd.]iv, ˈtraan-, -nzə-, -ət] adjective
Etymology: Late Latin transitivus, from Latin transitus (past participle of transire to cross over, pass) + -ivus -ive — more at transient
1.
a. of a verb form : expressing an action that carries over from an agent or subject to an object : taking a direct object
b. of a grammatical construction : containing a transitive verb form
2. : passing or leading successively on to members of a class or a series of developments : transient 2
a moment connected with a wider complex of moments in a transitive chain that goes on indefinitely — Eliseo Vivas
the main use of transitive parts is to lead us from one substantive conclusion to another — William James
specifically : of or relating to a logical relationship between x,y, and z such that if x has a specified relation to y and y to z then x has this relationship to z
3. : of, relating to, or involving transition : transitional
the transitive process of constructing a new philosophy out of the old
4. : passing or descending to another in law
a transitive covenant binds not only its original maker but also his representatives
• tran·si·tive·ly ]ə̇vlē, -li adverb
• tran·si·tive·ness ]ivnə̇s noun -es
II. noun
( -s )
: a verb form or grammatical construction expressive of transitive force