Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Intransitive
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
☞ 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.
Webster 1828 Edition
Intransitive
INTRANS'ITIVE
,Adj.
In grammar, an intransitive verb is one which expresses an action or state that is limited to the agent, or in other words, an action that does not pass over to, or operate upon an object; as, I walk; I run; I sleep.