pass-, pace-

Referring to how a person is incapable of feeling emotion or of experiencing pain: Jane was impassibly calm when answering the policeman's questions about the car accident she had witnessed.

1. A rate of movement; especially, in stepping, walking, etc.: "We walked at a brisk pace so we could home faster."
2. A rate of activity, progress, growth, performance, etc.; a tempo.
3. Any of various standard linear measures, representing the space naturally measured by the movement of the feet in walking; such as, geometrical pace, military pace, Roman pace, etc.
4. A single step: "She took four paces in the direction of the garage.
5. The distance covered in a step: "He was told to stand six paces inside the building.
6. A manner of stepping; a gait.
7. A gait of a horse or other animal in which the feet on the same side are lifted and put down together.
9. To put through one's paces, to cause someone to demonstrate his or her ability or to show her or his skill: "The drill sargeant put his soldiers through their paces for the commanding officer."
10. To set the pace, to act as an example for others to equal or to rival; be the most progressive or successful; such as, a cell phone that sets the pace for other similar devices.

Etymology: "to go by (something)"; also, "to cross over"; from Old French passer, from Vulgar Latiln passare "to step, to walk, to pass"; from Latin passus, "step, pace".

1. Tolerable, fair, mediocre: Mrs. Smart told Jim, her student, that his test was not excellent, but average and passable.
2. Able to be traversed, crossed, or traveled on: The snowplows had already been through the town, so all the roads and streets were passable and clear for cars and not blocked.
3. Suitable to be freely distributed: The newly manufactured coins from the mint were all passable for the public.

1. Concerning how something is just good enough: Jane mentioned, "This winter coat will passably do and keep me warm, I guess."

Many girls thought that Susan's brother was very handsome, but she thought he was just passably attractive.
2. Descriptive of how something is presented in a moderate or sufficient way or degree: Jack's mother thought that her son's high school grades were passably acceptable so as to apply to the junior college in town.

1. A section of a text or music with a certain meaning: Peggy repeated the passage in the piano piece many times before she could play it without any mistakes.
2. The progress of time; passing: Meg was surprised at the passage of time because it wa suddenly six o'clock in the evening and she was late for dinner.
3. A corridor; a hallway: Mildred was told to follow the passage the whole way and then turn right.
4. The fee which is paid for being conveyed from one place to another: The passage to Toronto Island was at a reduced rate that day.
5. Nautical, a channel of water, a narrow waterway: Mr. Smith told his class about the Northwest Passage and what role it played in the history of America.