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)

passaged, passaging 

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)

passaged, passaging 

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)

passaged, passaging 

1. to cause (a horse) to passage.

passage

¹

/ 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 )

passage

²

/ 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

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

C13: from Old French from passer to _pass

Origin of passage²

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

Example Sentences

TUI's Marella Cruises said the man was "seen entering the water while the ship was on passage to La Gomera", adding that it was supporting his family and working with local authorities.

Read more on BBC

They are also arguing the move would unblock the passage of its wider employment rights bill through Parliament, after the House of Lords twice voted for a six-month period, delaying its progress.

Read more on BBC

But in recent weeks the House of Lords has twice voted in favour of a six-month period, slowing the legislation's passage through Parliament.

Read more on BBC

Negotiations are under way to ensure safe passage for dozens of Hamas fighters holed up in tunnels in a southern Gaza area under Israeli control, multiple sources close to the talks told AFP.

Read more on Barron's

Many of these women are timing family and work as “seasons” of life, referencing the biblical passage Ecclesiastes 3:1.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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