Word of the Day ·

P3A1S1S1I1O1N1A1T1E1

passionate

pas·sion·ate

/ˈpæʃənɪt//ˈpæʃənət//ˈpæʃəneɪt/

adjective

What it means

  1. Given to strong feeling, sometimes romantic, sexual, or both.

    Mandy is a passionate lover.

  2. Fired with intense feeling.
    1 more example

    1718, Matthew Prior, Solomon, and other Poems on several Occasions, Preface, in Samuel Johnson (editor), The Works of the English Poets, London: J. Nichols, Volume 31, 1779, p. 93, Homer intended to shew us, in his Iliad, that dissentions amongst great men obstruct the execution of the noblest enterprizes […] His Achilles therefore is haughty and passionate, impatient of any restraint by laws, and arrogant of arms.

    Synonyms: ardent, blazing, burning, dithyrambic, fervent, fervid, fiery, flaming

  3. obsoleteSuffering; sorrowful.

    Poor, forlorn Proteus, passionate Proteus,

    c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], line 124
    1 more example

    She is sad and passionate at your highness’ tent.

    c. 1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Iohn”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], line 544

In a sentence

Mandy is a passionate lover.

Where it comes from

  1. Medieval Latinpassiōnātus“affected, impassioned, libidinous, easely angered”
  2. Middle Englishpassionat
  3. Englishpassionate

From Middle English passionat, from Medieval Latin passiōnātus (“affected, impassioned, libidinous, easely angered”). Equivalent to passion + -ate (adjective-forming suffix). Compare French passionné.

Subscribe with RSS.