\Tran"si*tive\, a. [L. transitivus: cf. F. transitif.
See {Transient}.]
1. Having the power of making a transit, or passage. [R.]
   --Bacon.
2. Effected by transference of signification.
         By far the greater part of the transitive or
         derivative applications of words depend on casual
         and unaccountable caprices of the feelings or the
         fancy.                                --Stewart.
3. (Gram.) Passing over to an object; expressing an action
   which is not limited to the agent or subject, but which
   requires an object to complete the sense; as, a transitive
   verb, for example, he holds the book. --
   {Tran"si*tive*ly}, adv. -- {Tran"si*tive*ness}, n.