passion

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pas·sion / ˈpashən/ • n. 1. strong and barely controllable emotion: a man of impetuous passion. ∎  a state or outburst of such emotion: oratory in which he gradually works himself up into a passion. ∎  intense sexual love: their all-consuming passion for each other | she nurses a passion for Thomas. ∎  an intense desire or enthusiasm for something: the English have a passion for gardens. ∎  a thing arousing enthusiasm: modern furniture is a particular passion of Bill's.2. (the Passion) the suffering and death of Jesus: meditations on the Passion of Christ. ∎  a narrative of this from any of the Gospels. ∎  a musical setting of any of these narratives: an aria from Bach's St. Matthew Passion.DERIVATIVES: pas·sion·less adj.

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