(n)passive voice, passivethe voice used to indicate that the grammatical subject of the verb is the recipient (not the source) of the action denoted by the verb“`The ball was thrown by the boy' uses the passive voice”, “`The ball was thrown' is an abbreviated passive”
(a)passive, inactivelacking in energy or will“Much benevolence of the passive order may be traced to a disinclination to inflict pain upon oneself” (George Meredith)