passage

A2 Topic:Communication

US /ˈpæsədʒ/ UK /ˈpæsɪd͡ʒ/ See IPA manual

Freq #5088

Meanings

1

noun
A short section of a book, speech, or piece of music.

The teacher read a passage from the novel aloud.
2

noun
A narrow way that connects places, such as a corridor or channel.

A long passage led from the kitchen to the garden.
3

noun
The act of moving or travelling through or along something.

The ship made a smooth passage across the sea.
4

noun
The passing of time.

The passage of time slowly healed her grief.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 noun · a narrow way that connects... passageway

3 noun · the act of moving or... transit

4 noun · the passing of time. passing

Word family

Forms passages

Derived forms cross-passageforepassagemidpassagemultipassagepassage-housepassageablepassagemakerpassagewaypassageworkrepassagesubpassageunderpassage

Related forms cotextlocus

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

purple passage
a section of writing with conspicuously elaborate or flowery language

Adjective + noun

Simplified etymology

Passage entered English in the Middle Ages and belongs to the same root family as pace and pass, associated with Latin passus “stretch of the leg.”

Etymology

From French passager, from Italian passeggiare.

passager French passeggiare Italian

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Communication Maritime & Sailing

External links

# passage

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈpæsədʒ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈpæsɪd͡ʒ/
**Frequency rank:** 5088

## Meanings
1. A short section of a book, speech, or piece of music.
2. A narrow way that connects places, such as a corridor or channel.
3. The act of moving or travelling through or along something.
4. The passing of time.

## Examples
- The teacher read a passage from the novel aloud.
- A long passage led from the kitchen to the garden.
- The ship made a smooth passage across the sea.
- The passage of time slowly healed her grief.

## Derived Forms
- cross-passage
- forepassage
- midpassage
- multipassage
- passage-house
- passageable
- passagemaker
- passageway
- passagework
- repassage
- subpassage
- underpassage

## Related Forms
- cotext
- locus

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: passager
- Root: passeggiare

## Etymology
From French passager, from Italian passeggiare.

## AI Etymology
Passage comes from French passager, from Italian passeggiare. The historical chain includes French passager and Italian passeggiare. Modern senses include a short section of a book, speech, or piece of music and a narrow way that connects places, such as a corridor or channel. The wider word family includes derivatives such as cross-passage, forepassage, midpassage, multipassage, passage-house, and passageable and related forms such as cotext and locus.

## Topics
- Communication
- Maritime & Sailing

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