Both Uses of
passive
in
Unbroken, by Hillenbrand
- He looked up and saw a body, drifting passively.†
p. 120.3 *passively = in an inactive manner (accepting what happens without trying to take control or reacting strongly)
- In risking their necks to sabotage their enemy, the men were no longer passive captives.†
p. 243.1
Definitions:
-
(1)
(passive) accepting what happens without trying to take control or reacting strongly
-
(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
More specialized and less common senses of the word are found in grammar, chemistry, physics, electronics, and communications. Consult a comprehensive dictionary if you wish to see those. All senses have to do with inactivity.