Brewer's: Active

Ac′tive

Active verbs

Verbs which act on the noun governed.

Active capital

Property in actual employment in a given concern.

Active Commerce

Exports and imports carried to and fro in our own ships. Passive commerce is when they are carried in foreign vessels. The commerce of England is active, of China passive.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Related Content