Intransitive

Intransitive
Intransitive In*tran"si*tive, a. [L. intransitivus: cf. F. intransitif. See {In-} not, and {Transitive}.] 1. Not passing farther; kept; detained. [R.] [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • intransitive — [in tran′sə tiv, in tran′zətiv] adj. [LL intransitivus] 1. not transitive 2. Gram. designating a verb that does not require a direct object n. an intransitive verb intransitively adv …   English World dictionary

  • intransitive — 1610s, from L.L. intransitivus not passing over (to another person), Priscian s term, from L. in not (see IN (Cf. in ) (1)) + transitivus that may pass over, from transire to pass over (see TRANSITIVE (Cf. transitive)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • intransitive — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ (of a verb) not taking a direct object, e.g. look in look at the sky. The opposite of TRANSITIVE(Cf. ↑transitivity). DERIVATIVES intransitively adverb intransitivity noun …   English terms dictionary

  • intransitive — ● intransitif, intransitive adjectif (bas latin intransitivus) Se dit d un emploi, d une construction caractérisés par la présence d un verbe intransitif. ● intransitif, intransitive (expressions) adjectif (bas latin intransitivus) Verbe… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • intransitive — in|tran|si|tive [ınˈtrænsıtıv] adj technical an intransitive verb has a subject but no object. For example, in the sentence they arrived , arrived is intransitive. Intransitive verbs are marked in this dictionary ≠ ↑transitive… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • intransitive — in|tran|si|tive [ ın trænzətıv ] adjective LINGUISTICS an intransitive verb has no direct object. In the sentence The children played. the verb play is intransitive. Intransitive verbs are marked I in this dictionary. ╾ in|tran|si|tive|ly adverb… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • intransitive — adjective technical an intransitive verb has a subject but no object. For example, in the sentence my cup broke , break is intransitive. intransitive noun (C) intransitively adverb opposite transitive …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • intransitive — UK [ɪnˈtrænsətɪv] / US [ɪnˈtrænzətɪv] adjective linguistics an intransitive verb has no direct object. In the sentence The children played . the verb play is intransitive. Intransitive verbs are marked [I] in this dictionary. Derived words:… …   English dictionary

  • intransitive — [ɪnˈtrænsətɪv] adj linguistics an intransitive verb has no direct object. In the sentence ‘The children played the verb ‘play is intransitive. Intransitive verbs are marked ‘[I] in this dictionary …   Dictionary for writing and speaking English

  • intransitive — intransitively, adv. intransitiveness, n. /in tran si tiv/, Gram. adj. 1. noting or having the quality of an intransitive verb. n. 2. See intransitive verb. [1605 15; < L intransitivus. See IN 3, TRANSITIVE] * * * …   Universalium

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