en passant

American  

[ahn pa-sahnt, ahn pah-sahn] / ˌɑn pæˈsɑnt, ɑ̃ pɑˈsɑ̃ /

adverb

1. (italics) in passing; by the way.

2. Chess. (used when a pawn that has moved two squares is captured by an opponent's pawn commanding the square that was passed.)

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en passant British  

/ ɒn pæˈsɑːnt, ɑ̃ pasɑ̃ /

adverb

1. in passing: in chess, said of capturing a pawn that has made an initial move of two squares to its fourth rank, bypassing the square where an enemy pawn on its own fifth rank could capture it. The capture is made as if the captured pawn had moved one square instead of two

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Etymology

Origin of en passant

First recorded in 1655–65

Example Sentences

He neither relies on voiceovers nor films them obliquely à la Polanski, who gives us the poetry en passant.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 14, 2022

Have pretty women, attractive men, guests who are en passant, the flavor of another language.

From Slate • Nov. 6, 2013

One is the number of en passant errors and omissions.

From The Guardian • Jun. 11, 2010

After errors by both sides, declarer came out on top with the aid of a coup en passant at Trick 12.

From New York Times • Mar. 24, 2010

May I here mention en passant a harmless old quack remedy—the common practice of smoking out the microbe.

From Vagaries by Munthe, Axel