intransitive definition | Dictionary.com

in⋅tran⋅si⋅tive

[in-tran-si-tiv]

Grammar

–adjective

1.	noting or having the quality of an intransitive verb.

–noun

2.	intransitive verb.

Origin:
1605–15; < L intrānsitīvus. See in- ³ , transitive

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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Language Translation for : intransitive

Spanish:

intransitivo,

German:

intransitiv,

Japanese:

自動詞の

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in·tran·si·tive   (ĭn-trān'sĭ-tĭv, -zĭ-) Pronunciation Key
adj.   Abbr. intr. or int. or i.
Designating a verb or verb construction that does not require or cannot take a direct object, as snow or sleep.

n.   An intransitive verb.

in·tran'si·tive·ly adv., in·tran'si·tive·ness, in·tran'si·tiv'i·ty n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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intransitive

1612, from L.L. intransitivus "not passing over" (to another person), Priscian's term, from L. in- "not" + transitivus "that may pass over," from transire "to pass over" (see transitive).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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intransitive
adjective
1.	designating a verb that does not require or cannot take a direct object [ant: transitive]
noun
1.	a verb (or verb construction) that does not take an object [syn: intransitive verb]

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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Intransitive

In*tran"si*tive\, a. [L. intransitivus: cf. F. intransitif. See In- not, and Transitive.]

1. Not passing farther; kept; detained. [R.]

And then it is for the image's sake and so far is intransitive; but whatever is paid more to the image is transitive and passes further. --Jer. Taylor.

2. (Gram.) Not transitive; not passing over to an object; expressing an action or state that is limited to the agent or subject, or, in other words, an action which does not require an object to complete the sense; as, an intransitive verb, e. g., the bird flies; the dog runs.

Note: Intransitive verbs have no passive form. Some verbs which appear at first sight to be intransitive are in reality, or were originally, transitive verbs with a reflexive or other object omitted; as, he keeps (i. e., himself) aloof from danger. Intransitive verbs may take a noun of kindred signification for a cognate object; as, he died the death of a hero; he dreamed a dream. Some intransitive verbs, by the addition of a preposition, become transitive, and so admit of a passive voice; as, the man laughed at; he was laughed at by the man.

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