Pass

(6), v. i. [imp. & p. p. PASSED (pȧst); p. pr. & vb. n. PASSING.] [Fr. passer, Pr. & Pg. passar, Sp. pasar, It. & L. Lat. passare, from Lat. passus, step. See PACE.]

1Sense 1. To go; to move; to proceed; to be transferred in any way from one point to another; to make a transit; — usually with a following adverb or preposition defining the kind of motion; as, to pass on, out, in, into, from, under, &c.

Sweet sounds rose slowly through their mouths, And from their bodies passed. Coleridge.

2Sense 2. To be transferred from one state or condition to another; to change condition or circumstances; to undergo transition; to change in possession.

Others, dissatisfied with what they have, . . . pass from just to unjust. Sir W. Temple.

3Sense 3. To go from one person to another; to be given and taken; to circulate; hence, to be current; to gain reception; not to be thrown out as bad or worthless; as, counterfeit coins sometimes pass as money.

False eloquence passeth only where true is not understood. Felton.

4Sense 4. Hence, to have current value or reputation; to be deemed or taken; to be received in opinion or estimation; to be regarded; — generally with for.

“May pass for a wise man.” Shak.

This will not pass for a fault in him till it is proved to be one in us. Atterbury.

5Sense 5. In a more specific sense, to go by; to move athwart one; to proceed from one side to the other, of a person or place referred to, or a point from which any thing is conceived of as viewed; to cross one's path, one's observation, or the like; — with a preposition; as, by, over, &c.; as, to pass by one; to pass over the road.

6Sense 6. Hence, to go by in successive acts, states, or intervals of time; to elapse; to be spent.

The time when the thing existed is the idea of that space of duration which passed between some fixed period and the being of that thing. Locke.

A good part of their lives passes away without thinking. Locke.

7Sense 7. To move before the consciousness or observation; to take place or occur in fact; to occur progressively; to happen; to take place.

8Sense 8. To move out of reach, of observation, or the like; to disappear; to vanish; hence, also, to depart from life; to decease; to die.

Beauty is a charm, but soon the charm will pass. Dryden.

The passing of the sweetest soul That ever looked with human eyes. Tennyson.

9Sense 9. To go by a certain necessary step, or the necessary steps of progress; to be ratified or accepted; specifically, to be carried through a body that has power to sanction or reject; to receive legislative or executive sanction; to be enacted.

“The play may pass.” Shak.

Neither of these bills has yet passed the House of Commons. Swift.

10Sense 10. To undergo scrutiny with success or approval; to bear inspection; to be in a passable or tolerable state; to do well enough; to answer.

A middling sort of man was left well enough by his father to pass, but he could never think he had enough, so long as any had more. L'Estrange.

11Sense 11. Hence, to go unheeded or neglected; to proceed without hinderance or opposition; as, we saw the act, but let it pass.

12Sense 12. To go beyond bounds; to surpass; to be in excess.

13Sense 13. To make a lunge or pass in fencing or fighting; to push with a sword; to thrust.

To pass into, to change by a gradual transition to; to become by successive gradation. — To pass on or upon. (a.) To happen to; to come upon; to affect. (b.) To determine; to give judgment or sentence. “Though well we may not pass upon his life.” Shak. “Provided no indirect act pass upon our prayers to defile them.” Bp. Taylor.

v. t. 1. In simple, proper transitive senses, (a.) To go by, beyond, over, through, or the like; to proceed from one side or the other of. (b.) Hence, to go from one limit to the other of; to spend; to live through; hence, to make experience of; to undergo; to suffer. “To pass commodiously this life.” Shak.

She loved him for the dangers he had passed. Shak.

(c.) To go by without care or notice; to omit; to make no note of; to disregard.

I pass their warlike pomp, their proud array. Dryden.

(d.) To go beyond or transcend; to surpass; to excel; to exceed.

And strive to pass Their native music by her skillful art. Spenser.

Whose tender power Passes the strength of storms in their most desolate hour. Byron.

(e.) To be carried through, as a body having power to accept or reject; to undergo with favorable issue the ordeal, examination, or action of; to be accepted or ratified by; specifically, to receive the legislative or official sanction of; to be enacted by; as, the bill passed both houses of the legislature.

2Sense 2. In causative senses, (a.) To cause to move or go; to send; to transfer from one person, place, or condition to another; to transmit; to deliver; to make over.

I had only time to pass my eye over the medals, which are in great number. Addison.

Waller passed over five thousand horse and foot by Newbridge. Clarendon.

(b.) To give forth; to utter; to pronounce; to deliver by word; to make orally.

Oath is passed, to pass away from. Shak.

Father, thy word is passed. Milton.

(c.) To cause to go by; to make a finish of; to accomplish; to achieve.

This night We'll pass the business privately and well. Shak.

(d.) To advance by stages of progress; to carry on with success through an ordeal, examination, or action; specifically, to give legal or official sanction to; to ratify; to enact; to approve as valid and just; as, the senate passed the law. (e.) To put in circulation; to give currency to; as, to pass counterfeit money is forbidden by law. (f.) To cause to obtain entrance, admission, or conveyance; as, to pass a person from one place to another on the railway.

3Sense 3. To pay regard to; to take notice of; to care; — generally with for.

These silken-coated slaves I pass not. Shak.

If, when I should choose, Beauty and virtue were the fee proposed, I should not pass for parentage. Ford.

Passed midshipman, a midshipman who has passed his examination and is received as a candidate for the office of lieutenant. Totten. — To pass off, to impose fraudulently or by trick; to palm. — To pass on or upon, to practice artfully; to put upon, as a trick, cheat, &c.; to impose fraudulently or by trick upon; to palm off; as, she passed the child on her husband for a boy. — To pass over or by, to overlook; not to note or answer; to disregard. “Certain passages of Scripture we can not pass by without injury to truth.” Burnet.

n. [O. Fr. passe, Pr. pas, Sp. puso, It. passo, from Lat. passus, step. See PACE.]

1Sense 1. That through which one goes or passes; a passage; a way; especially, a narrow and difficult way; a road through or over some dangerous or impracticable place; an elevated road or way crossing a mountain chain.

2Sense 2. A request or order to give passage to a person; a document entitling one to pass, or to go and come; a passport; a ticket of free transit or free admission. “A gentleman had a pass to go beyond the seas.” Clarendon. “A ship sailing under the flag and pass of an enemy.” Kent.

3Sense 3. (Fencing.) A thrust; a push; attempt to stab or strike.

4Sense 4. A movement of the hand over or along any thing; the manipulation of an operator in mesmerism.

5Sense 5. State of things; condition; conjuncture.

To what a pass are our minds brought! Sidney.

Matters have been brought to this pass. South.

To bring to pass, to cause to happen; to bring about; to effect. “What future days should bring to pass.” Milton.—To come to pass, to occur; to take place.