passage

¹

[ pas-ij ]

noun

1. a portion or section of a written work; a paragraph, verse, etc.:

   a passage of Scripture.

2. a phrase or other division of a musical work.
3. Fine Arts. an area, section, or detail of a work, especially with respect to its qualities of execution:

   passages of sensitive brushwork.

4. an act or instance of passing from one place, condition, etc., to another; transit.
5. the permission, right, or freedom to pass:

   to refuse passage through a territory.

6. the route or course by which a person or thing passes or travels.
7. a hall or corridor; passageway.
8. an opening or entrance into, through, or out of something:

   the nasal passages.

9. a voyage by water from one point to another:

   a rough passage across the English Channel.

10. the privilege of conveyance as a passenger:

    to book passage on an ocean liner.

11. the price charged for accommodation on a ship; fare.
12. a lapse or passing, as of time.
13. a progress or course, as of events.
14. the enactment into law of a legislative measure.
15. an interchange of communications, confidences, etc., between persons.
16. an exchange of blows; altercation or dispute:

    a passage at arms.

17. the act of causing something to pass; transference; transmission.
18. an evacuation of the bowels.
19. an occurrence, incident, or event.

verb (used without object)

, pas·saged, pas·sag·ing.

1. to make a passage; cross; pass; voyage.

passage

²

[ pas-ij, puh-sahzh ]

noun

1. a slow, cadenced trot executed with great elevation of the feet and characterized by a moment of suspension before the feet strike the ground.

verb (used without object)

, pas·saged, pas·sag·ing.

1. (of a horse) to execute such a movement.
2. (of a rider) to cause a horse to execute such a movement.

verb (used with object)

, pas·saged, pas·sag·ing.

1. to cause (a horse) to passage.

passage

¹

/ ˈpæsɑːʒ; ˈpæsɪdʒ /

noun

1. a sideways walk in which diagonal pairs of feet are lifted alternately
2. a cadenced lofty trot, the moment of suspension being clearly defined

verb

1. to move or cause to move at a passage

passage

²

/ ˈpæsɪdʒ /

noun

1. a channel, opening, etc, through or by which a person or thing may pass
2. music a section or division of a piece, movement, etc
3. a way, as in a hall or lobby
4. a section of a written work, speech, etc, esp one of moderate length
5. a journey, esp by ship

   the outward passage took a week

6. the act or process of passing from one place, condition, etc, to another

   passage of a gas through a liquid

7. the permission, right, or freedom to pass

   to be denied passage through a country

8. the enactment of a law or resolution by a legislative or deliberative body
9. an evacuation of the bowels
10. rare.
    an exchange or interchange, as of blows, words, etc (esp in the phrase passage of arms )

Word History and Origins

Origin of passage¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Old French, equivalent to pass(er) “to cross, go through” + -age noun suffix; pass, -age

Origin of passage²

First recorded in 1750–60; from French verb passager, variant of passéger, from Italian passeggiare “to walk, stroll”; pace ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of passage¹

C18: from French passager, variant of passéger, from Italian passeggiare to take steps, ultimately from Latin passūs step, pace ¹

Origin of passage²

C13: from Old French from passer to pass

Example Sentences

She fails to appreciate the congressional and constitutional obstacles Johnson had to overcome to win passage of the bill.

From The Daily Beast

One of the rites of passage for every young political reporter is to listen to the elders tell stories about campaigns past.

From The Daily Beast

Going to The Ball, signing up for JDate, downloading JSwipe are all modern-day rites of passage.

From The Daily Beast

In the neighborhoods they grow up in, prison is a rite of passage and being a street gangster is a viable career choice.

From The Daily Beast

That morning, he sat in the windowsill and began his day like every other: reading the Bible passage that coincided with the date.

From The Daily Beast

Henry Hudson sailed from Gravesend on his first voyage for the discovery of a northwest passage to India.

From Project Gutenberg

That he discovered two staples upon one side, which was all of boards, without any passage for light.

From Project Gutenberg

She heard through the half-open door Mr. Orgreave's slippers on the tiles of the passage leading to the stairs.

From Project Gutenberg

This work is now lost, and we know it only by the abstract given by Photius in the passage quoted.

From Project Gutenberg

Capt. Ross sailed from Shetland, on his first voyage for the discovery of the north-west passage.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• clause
• paragraph
• portion
• quotation
• reading
• section
• sentence
• text
• transition
• verse