Emily Dickinson Lexicon
Definition for Passive (-r)
passive (-r), adj. [L. passīv-us, capable of suffering or feeling.] (webplay: death, denial, flower, God, hatred, hope, joy, quiet, right, taught).
- Heedless; unresponsive; apathetic; indifferent; inattentive; unconcerned.
- Quiet; calm; emotionless; beyond feeling; [fig.] dead.
- Transitional; [word play on “passing”] dying; moving into the next life.
- Unresisting; not opposing; yielding with little or no struggle; helpless; defenseless.
- Dormant; temporarily inactive.
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