Definition of passive

The word "passive" has its roots in Latin and Old French. In Latin, the word "passivus" means "suffering" or "enduring," derived from "passus," meaning "suffered" or "gone through." This Latin term was later borrowed into Old French as "passif," which referred to something that received or underwent an action rather than performing it. The English language adopted the word "passive" from Old French in the 14th century, initially referring to a noun or object that received an action or was acted upon. Over time, the term evolved to encompass abstract concepts, including the idea of a person or entity being acted upon or influenced by external forces, rather than being actively involved in a process. Today, the word "passive" is commonly used in various fields, including linguistics, philosophy, and sociology, to describe situations where entities or individuals are affected by external influences rather than exerting their own agency.