noun

1. 1. Archaic suffering or agony, as of a martyr
   2. Now Rare an account of this
2. 1. the sufferings of Jesus, beginning with his agony in the garden of Gethsemane and continuing to his death on the Cross
   2. any of the Gospel narratives of Jesus' Passion and of accompanying events
   3. an artistic work, as an oratorio or a play, based on these narratives
3. 1. any one of the emotions, as hate, grief, love, fear, joy, etc.
   2. all such emotions collectively
4. extreme, compelling emotion; intense emotional drive or excitement; specif.,
   1. great anger; rage; fury
   2. enthusiasm or fondness a passion for music
   3. strong love or affection
   4. sexual drive or desire; lust
5. the object of any strong desire or fondness
6. Obsolete the condition of being acted upon, esp. by outside influences

Etymology: OFr < LL(Ec) passio, a suffering, esp. that of Christ (< L passus, pp. of pati, to endure < IE base *pē-, to harm > Gr pēma, destruction, L paene, scarcely): transl. of Gr pathos: see pathos