What is "intransitive"

Intransitive \In*tran"si*tive\, a. [L. intransitivus: cf. F. intransitif. See In- not, and Transitive.]

1. Not passing farther; kept; detained. [R.]

   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.

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.

   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.

1610s, from Late Latin intransitivus "not passing over" (to another person), Priscian's term, from Latin in- "not" (see in- (1)) + transitivus "that may pass over," from transire "to pass over" (see transitive).

a. 1 (context grammar of a verb English) Not transitive: not having, or not taking, a direct object. 2 (context rare English) Not transitive or passing further; kept; detained.

adj. designating a verb that does not require or cannot take a direct object [ant: transitive]