passage English · revision 6766

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1225|origins=la passus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈpæsɪd͡ʒ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fro|passage|t=mountain pass, passage]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[m|fro|passer|t=to go by]] (see [[pass]]) and [[-age]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from Vulgar Latin *passare, from [[la|passus|t=step, pace]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) from PIE [[ine-pro|*peth₂-|alt=*pete-|t=to spread]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A road or pathway: probably about 1225, in ''King Horn'';^(Barnhart 1988) the early 13th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The act or means of passing or crossing is from about 1300,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and the passing from one state to another, as from life to death, from about 1430.^(OED 1989) A corridor in a building is first recorded in Thomas Coryat's ''Crudities'' (1611), the 1610s in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) A portion of writing, originally one about a particular matter, is from the 1610s,^(Etymonline) and a section of music from the 1670s.^(Etymonline) ''Bird of passage'' is from 1673.^(OED 1989) The passing of a law by a legislature is a later sense.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) ''Passageway'' is American from 1649.^(Barnhart 1988) In Devon dialect a passage was a ferry.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1225 – a road.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1300 – a crossing.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1611 – a corridor.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1610s – a passage of writing.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1670s – a passage of music.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A narrow way, such as a [[corridor]], allowing access from one place to another.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A section of a written work, speech or piece of music.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The act of passing; [[transit]] or movement; the passing of time.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A journey, especially by sea; the right or fare to travel.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The passing of a bill into law.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A duct or channel in the body: ''nasal passages''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[passagework]]

+ * [[passageway]]

+ * [[bird of passage]]

+ * [[deck passage]]

+ * [[middle passage]]

+ * [[Northeast Passage]]

+ * [[Northwest Passage]]

+ * [[passage grave]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pass]]

+ * [[passenger]]

+ * [[pace]]

+ * [[passport]]

+ * [[rite of passage]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A separate word passage, in [[dressage]] a slow cadenced trot, is from French passager, from Italian passeggiare, to walk (early 18th century).^(NODE 1998)^(SOED 2002)^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}