Passion

Pronunciation

• enPR: păsh'É™n, IPA: /ˈpæʃən/
• US IPA: ˈpʰæʃən
• Rhymes: -æʃən

Origin

Via French, from Latin passio ("suffering"), noun of action from perfect passive participle passus ("suffered"), from deponent verb patior ("I suffer"), from Proto-Indo-European *pe(i)- ("to hurt"), see also Old English feond ("devil, enemy"), Gothic 𐍆𐌰𐌹𐌰𐌽 (faian, "to blame").

Full definition of passion

Noun

1. Any great, strong, powerful emotion, especially romantic love or hate.We share a passion for books.
• 2011, January 16, Saj Chowdhury, Sunderland 1 - 1 Newcastle, That was partly because of a swirling wind that made precision passing difficult and also a derby atmosphere where the emphasis seemed to be on passion rather than football.
2. Fervor, determination.
3. An object of passionate or romantic love or strong romantic interest.It started as a hobby, but now my motorbike collection has become my passion.
4. sexual intercourse, especially when very emotionalWe shared a night of passion.
5. (Christianity) The suffering of Jesus leading up to and during his crucifixion.
6. A play, musical composition or display meant to commemorate the suffering of Jesus.
7. (obsolete) Suffering or enduring of imposed or inflicted pain; any suffering or distress.a cardiac passion
• Wyclif Bible (Rom. viii. 18)the passions of this time
8. (obsolete) The state of being acted upon; subjection to an external agent or influence; a passive condition; opposed to action.
• John LockeA body at rest affords us no idea of any active power to move, and, when set is motion, it is rather a passion than an action in it.
9. (obsolete) Capacity of being affected by external agents; susceptibility of impressions from external agents.
• Francis Baconmouldable and not mouldable, scissible and not scissible, and many other passions of matter
10. (obsolete) An innate quality, property, or attribute of a thing.... to obtain the knowledge of some passion of the circle.
11. (obsolete) Disorder of the mind; madness.

Synonyms

• (fervor, determination) ardor, fire in the belly, zeal

Derived terms

• passionflower
• passion fruit, passionfruit
• Passion Sunday
• pash
• passion pop

Related terms

Verb

1. (obsolete) To suffer pain or sorrow; to experience a passion; to be extremely agitated.
• ShakespeareDumbly she passions, frantically she doteth.
2. (transitive) To give a passionate character to.