pace English · revision 5611

+ {{homograph|1|step}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1280|origins=la pandere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /peɪs/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|pas]], [[bor|fro|pas|t=step, pace]] and directly from [[la|passus|t=step, stride]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) literally “a stretch of the leg”, a noun use of the past participle of [[m|la|pandere|t=to stretch, spread out]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) which Watkins traces to [[ine-pro|*peth₂-|alt=*pete-|t=to spread]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[pass]], [[passage]] and [[expand]].^(Cresswell 2021)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A way of life or course of action: about 1280 in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988) A step in walking, the late 13th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In early use it could also mean a journey or route.^(Cresswell 2021) Manner of walking, gait, is from 1297, and speed from before 1300.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) The distance covered by one step, a measure of length, is from 1382.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) ''Put through one's paces'', from horse-riding, is from the mid-18th century.^(Cresswell 2021) The verb, to walk with regular steps, is from the 1510s,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) to measure by pacing from the 1570s,^(Etymonline) and to set the pace for another from 1886.^(Etymonline) A change of pace, in the sense of tempo, is from the 1950s, and ''pace yourself'' from the 1970s.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1280 – a course of action.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1297 – a manner of walking.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1382 – a measure of distance.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1510s – the verb.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1886 – to set the pace.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The [[speed]] at which someone or something moves or happens.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A single step in walking, or the length of one step.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A manner of walking or running; a [[gait]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To walk back and forth, especially when worried.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To measure a distance by counting steps.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To set the speed for someone, or to spread one's effort over time.^(AHD)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ {{homograph|2|with due respect to}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1863|origins=la pāx}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈpeɪ.si/, /ˈpɑː.tʃeɪ/, /ˈpɑː.keɪ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The preposition is [[bor|la|pāce]], the ablative of [[m|la|pāx|t=peace]], as in pāce tuā “by your leave”,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) from [[ine-pro|*peh₂ǵ-|alt=*pag-|t=to fasten]].^(Etymonline) See [[peace]].^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ With due respect to someone named: 1863 in Etymonline and MWU,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) while the SOED dates it to the late 18th century.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is used chiefly as a courteous or ironical apology for disagreeing with someone.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) It is sometimes misused as though it meant “according to”, the opposite of its sense.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1863 – with due respect to.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Preposition===

+ # ''(formal)'' With due respect to someone, used when disagreeing with them.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pass]]

+ * [[passage]]

+ * [[passenger]]

+ * [[expand]]

+ * [[pacemaker]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Pace, Easter, as in ''pace egg'', is a Scottish and northern variant of [[pasch]].^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}