[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

passion \pas"sion\, n. f., fr. l. passio, fr. pati, passus, to
   suffer. see patient.
   1. a suffering or enduring of imposed or inflicted pain; any
      suffering or distress as, a cardiac passion;
      specifically, the suffering of christ between the time of
      the last supper and his death, esp. in the garden upon the
      cross. "the passions of this time." --wyclif rom. viii.
      18.
      1913 webster

            to whom also he showed himself alive after his
            passion, by many infallible proofs.   --acts i. 3.
      1913 webster

   2. the state of being acted upon; subjection to an external
      agent or influence; a passive condition; -- opposed to
      action.
      1913 webster

            a body at rest affords us no idea of any active
            power to move, and, when set in motion, it is rather
            a passion than an action in it.       --locke.
      1913 webster

   3. capacity of being affected by external agents;
      susceptibility of impressions from external agents. r.
      1913 webster

            moldable and not moldable, scissible and not
            scissible, and many other passions of matter.
                                                  --bacon.
      1913 webster

   4. the state of the mind when it is powerfully acted upon and
      influenced by something external to itself; the state of
      any particular faculty which, under such conditions,
      becomes extremely sensitive or uncontrollably excited; any
      emotion or sentiment specifically, love or anger in a
      state of abnormal or controlling activity; an extreme or
      inordinate desire; also, the capacity or susceptibility of
      being so affected; as, to be in a passion; the passions of
      love, hate, jealously, wrath, ambition, avarice, fear,
      etc.; a passion for war, or for drink; an orator should
      have passion as well as rhetorical skill. "a passion fond
      even to idolatry." --macaulay. "her passion is to seek
      roses." --lady m. w. montagu.
      1913 webster

            we also are men of like passions with you. --acts
                                                  xiv. 15.
      1913 webster

            the nature of the human mind can not be sufficiently
            understood, without considering the affections and
            passions, or those modifications or actions of the
            mind consequent upon the apprehension of certain
            objects or events in which the mind generally
            conceives good or evil.               --hutcheson.
      1913 webster

            the term passion, and its adverb passionately, often
            express a very strong predilection for any pursuit,
            or object of taste -- a kind of enthusiastic
            fondness for anything.                --cogan.
      1913 webster

            the bravery of his grief did put me
            into a towering passion.              --shak.
      1913 webster

            the ruling passion, be it what it will,
            the ruling passion conquers reason still. --pope.
      1913 webster

            who walked in every path of human life,
            felt every passion.                   --akenside.
      1913 webster

            when statesmen are ruled by faction and interest,
            they can have no passion for the glory of their
            country.                              --addison.
      1913 webster

   5. disorder of the mind; madness. obs. --shak.
      1913 webster

   6. passion week. see passion week, below. --r. of gl.
      1913 webster

   passion flower bot., any flower or plant of the genus
      passiflora; -- so named from a fancied resemblance of
      parts of the flower to the instruments of the crucifixion
      of christ.
      1913 webster

   note: the flowers are showy, and the fruit is sometimes
         highly esteemed see granadilla, and maypop. the
         roots and leaves are generally more or less noxious,
         and are used in medicine. the plants are mostly tendril
         climbers, and are commonest in the warmer parts of
         america, though a few species are asiatic or
         australian.
         1913 webster

   passion music mus., originally, music set to the gospel
      narrative of the passion of our lord; after the
      reformation, a kind of oratorio, with narrative, chorals,
      airs, and choruses, having for its theme the passion and
      crucifixion of christ.

   passion play, a mystery play, in which the scenes connected
      with the passion of our savior are represented
      dramatically.

   passion sunday eccl., the fifth sunday in lent, or the
      second before easter.

   passion week, the last week but one in lent, or the second
      week preceding easter. "the name of passion week is
      frequently, but improperly, applied to holy week."
      --shipley.
      1913 webster

   syn: passion, feeling, emotion.

   usage: when any feeling or emotion completely masters the
          mind, we call it a passion; as, a passion for music,
          dress, etc.; especially is anger when thus extreme
          called passion. the mind, in such cases, is considered
          as having lost its self-control, and become the
          passive instrument of the feeling in question.
          1913 webster
see also:
patient passion week passion flower passiflora granadilla maypop 
passion music passion play passion sunday passion week passion 
feeling emotion 

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