(passive voice)
1Passive voice — Voice Voice, n. [OE. vois, voys, OF. vois, voiz, F. voix, L. vox, vocis, akin to Gr. ? a word, ? a voice, Skr. vac to say, to speak, G. erw[ a]hnen to mention. Cf. {Advocate}, {Advowson}, {Avouch}, {Convoke}, {Epic}, {Vocal}, {Vouch}, {Vowel}.] 1 …
2Passive voice — 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… …
3passive voice — passive .voice n [singular] the ↑passive 2 …
4passive voice — noun the voice used to indicate that the grammatical subject of the verb is the recipient (not the source) of the action denoted by the verb The ball was thrown by the boy uses the passive voice The ball was thrown is an abbreviated passive • Syn …
5passive voice — noun a) The form of a transitive verb in which its subject receives the action. The passive voice is sometimes criticized for de emphasizing the actor. b) Any construction that obscures the agent of an action, or the agency of said agent. Many… …
6passive voice — voice which is not active in grammar, passive form of a transitive verb (Grammar) …
7ˌpassive ˈvoice, the — see passive …
8passive voice — noun (singular) the passive2 …
9passive voice — Leo pili ia mai. See verb …
10English passive voice — This article is about the passive voice in English. For the passive voice generally, including its use in other languages, see Passive voice. English grammar series English grammar Contraction Disputes in English grammar English compound English… …
