pace
pronunciation
How to pronounce pace in British English:
UK [peɪs]
How to pronounce pace in American English:
US [peɪs]
-
- Noun:
- the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
- the distance covered by a step
- the relative speed of progress or change
- a step in walking or running
- the rate of some repeating event
- a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
-
- Verb:
- walk with slow or fast paces
- go at a pace
- measure (distances) by pacing
- regulate or set the pace of
Word Origin
- pace
- pace: [13] Latin passus ‘step’, the source of English pace (and also ultimately of English pass), denoted etymologically a ‘stretch of the leg’. It was based on passus, the past participle of the verb pandere ‘stretch’ (source also of English expand and spawn). English acquired it via Old French pas, and at first used it not just for ‘step’ and ‘rate of movement’, but also for a ‘mountain defile’. In this last sense, though, it has since the early modern English period been converted to pass, partly through reassociation with French pas, partly through the influence of the verb pass.=> expand, pass, spawn
- pace (n.)
- late 13c., "a step in walking; rate of motion," from Old French pas "a step, pace, trace," and directly from Latin passus, passum "a step, pace, stride," noun use of past participle of pandere "to stretch (the leg), spread out," probably from PIE *pat-no-, a nasalized variant of root *pete- "to spread" (cognates: Greek petannynai "to spread out," petalon "a leaf," patane "plate, dish;" Old Norse faðmr "embrace, bosom," Old English fæðm "embrace, bosom, fathom," Old Saxon fathmos "the outstretched arms"). Also, "a measure of five feet" [Johnson]. Pace-setter in fashion is from 1895.
- pace (prep.)
- "with the leave of," 1863, from Latin pace, ablative of pax "peace," as in pace tua "with all deference to you;" from PIE *pak- "to fasten" (see pax). "Used chiefly as a courteous or ironical apology for a contradiction or difference of opinion" [OED].
- pace (v.)
- 1510s, "to walk at a steady rate," from pace (n.). Meaning "to measure by pacing" is from 1570s. That of "to set the pace for" (another) is from 1886. Related: Paced; pacing.
Example
- 1. The pace of cash acquisitions seems to be picking up as well .
- 2. You get a bunch of great ideas , and it accelerates the pace of innovation .
- 3. Meanwhile , ford apparently isn 't slowing the pace of innovation .
- 4. How do they pace their steps ?
- 5. Domestic investment has not kept pace .