passus Latin · revision 6697

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Naevius|origins=ine-pro *peth₂-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈpas.sʊs], [ˈpas.suːs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈpas.sus], [ˈpas.sus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''passus''' ''m'' (genitive passūs); fourth declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from the stem of [[pandō]] “to spread, stretch out”, with the suffix -tus, from [[itc-pro|*pat-s-tus]], [[ine-pro|*peth₂-|t=to spread]]: a step as a stretching of the legs.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) Cognate with [[en|fathom]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler's first source is Naevius.^(Köbler 2010) The OLD's first citations are from Plautus.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant a step, pace, stride, as Ennius' quick step across the plains and Virgil's Ascanius following his father with unequal steps; the plural also meant footprints.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) As a measure it was a double pace of five feet, and ''mīlle passūs'' was a Roman mile, about 1.45 km.^(OLD 2012) Döderlein contrasts ''passus'', a step measured by the distance between the feet, with ''gressus'', a step being taken.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ In Medieval Latin it meant a mountain pass and a passage in a text.^(Niermeyer 1976) It survives in Italian ''passo'', French ''pas'', Spanish ''paso'' and Romanian ''pas'', and the DÉRom reconstructs Proto-Romance */ˈpass-u/.^(Wiktionary)^(DÉRom) Through Old French ''pas'' it is the source of [[en|pace]] in the late 13th century, and through Vulgar Latin *passare of [[en|pass]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of a quick step.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses ''mīlle passuum''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 13th century – English ''pace'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|step]], [[m|en|pace]], stride, (plural) footprints.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A double pace (five Roman feet), ''mīlle passūs'', a Roman [[m|en|mile]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A mountain [[m|en|pass]]; a passage of a text.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pandō]]

+ * [[gradus]]

+ * [[en|pace]]

+ * [[en|pass]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Passus'' is also the perfect participle of [[pandō]] “spread out” (used of dried fruit, as ''ūva passa'' “raisin”) and of [[patior]] “to suffer”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}