passive iron

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.
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            The passive air
            Upbore their nimble tread.            --Milton.
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            The mind is wholly passive in the reception of all
            its simple ideas.                     --Locke.
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   2. Receiving or enduring without either active sympathy or
      active resistance; without emotion or excitement; patient;
      not opposing; unresisting; as, passive obedience; passive
      submission.
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            The best virtue, passive fortitude.   --Massinger.
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   3. (Chem.) Inactive; inert; unreactive; not showing strong
      affinity; as, red phosphorus is comparatively passive.
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   4. (Med.) Designating certain morbid conditions, as
      hemorrhage or dropsy, characterized by relaxation of the
      vessels and tissues, with deficient vitality and lack of
      reaction in the affected tissues.
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   {Passive congestion} (Med.), congestion due to obstruction to
      the return of the blood from the affected part.

   {Passive iron} (Chem.), iron which has been subjected to the
      action of heat, of strong nitric acid, chlorine, etc. It
      is then not easily acted upon by acids.

   {Passive movement} (Med.), a movement of a part, in order to
      exercise it, made without the assistance of the muscles
      which ordinarily move the part.

   {Passive obedience} (as used by writers on government),
      obedience or submission of the subject or citizen as a
      duty in all cases to the existing government.

   {Passive prayer}, among mystic divines, a suspension of the
      activity of the soul or intellectual faculties, the soul
      remaining quiet, and yielding only to the impulses of
      grace.

   {Passive verb}, or {Passive voice} (Gram.), a verb, or form
      of a verb, which expresses the effect of the action of
      some agent; as, in Latin, doceor, I am taught; in English,
      she is loved; the picture is admired by all; he is
      assailed by slander.
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   Syn: Inactive; inert; quiescent; unresisting; unopposing;
        suffering; enduring; submissive; patient.
        [1913 Webster] Passive balloon