Middle English Dictionary Entry
passāǧe n.
Entry Info
| Forms | passāǧe n. Also pasage, pasagche. |
| Etymology | OF passage & ML passāgium. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The act of crossing or passing from one place to another; going over or through something; (b) a means of crossing or passing over water; a ship; ?also, perhaps specif. a ship making the cross-Channel passage; (c) the right or permission to cross or pass through; writ of ~, a safe-conduct; (d) a transition from one state to another, esp. death; natural ~, ~ oute of this lif (world), death; (e) a toll for passing over a bridge or through a place.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 11 Pains(2) (LdMisc 108)p.35 : A ful heiȝh brugge and vnguod Was maked ouer þat foule flod To habbe redie passage.
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.23 : We shul preyen..for alle trewe shipmen, and trewe pilgrymes, yt godd for his grace yeue hem wederyng and passage, yat yei mowen sauely commen and gone.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.2209 : He wolde..The passage of the water take, And..this ladi..bere unto that other stronde.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1236 : Februer..is bereined, And with londflodes in his rage At Fordes letteth the passage.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)96a/a : Þe necke of here bladder is straiȝt and lettiþ þe passage [L exire] of þe matere, and so þe stone is I-bred.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)108a/b : If galaxias were of þe inprentinge of þe passage of þe sonne, þanne most þis prentinge be in þe signes in þe whiche þe sonne passiþ.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)128b/a : Ester..is I-clepid in ebrewe phase, þat is, passinge oþir passage.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)145b/b : Curlewes haueþ streiȝt veynes aboute þe herte & þerfore venemous smoke haþ no trewe passage [L transitum], but he bidiþ in þe stomak.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)13452 : Ihesus..a passage made Vte ouer a see.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)645 : The moyster can descende, To stoppen his way and letten his passage.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1675 : The newe fame ran..with ful swift passage Vnto Thebes of this mariage.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3399 : Over hegge durst I not goo, For he forbed me the passage.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.5319 : Into a mounteyn he made anon his went..and ther in his passage He slouh a boor.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)2834 : We haue merueille..Þat of so gret an heritage, Þat long & brod ys in passage, Þat þy fader hadde in his baillye, & hast þerof so litel partie.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)4665 : Þai come..To a hauen of þe se, Whare þe next passage In to Irlande with cariage Þat time was wonte to be.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)11599 : The kynges hih weye..ys most esy off passage.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)69b/a : Sich a maner of brennynge makiþ þe humouris to haue a fre passage and auentynge.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)90a/a : Þou schalt..constreyne þat veyne or arterie þat þe blood mowe haue no passage ne out goynge bi þat place.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)12 : Ouer our hedis ys passage and goyng [vr. transite] of peple.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)110 : He cast vp his yen, and he saw a passage of hony fallyng fro braunche to braunche.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)634 : He wolde haue..a Brigge..ovir Tamyse for light passage.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)56 : Heo cam to þe se and redi fond hire passage.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)97 : He passes to þat port his passage to seche; Fyndes he a fayr schyp to þe fare redy.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.2159 : So þat þe wynde be redy, and þe tyde, Passage is ay, who-so list to passe.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)50.14 : To A gret water he cam..his felawes..there Rested..to Abyden som passage Over to gon.
- (1473) Paston (EETS)1.465 : I praye yow wryght ageyn, and sende it by the next passage.
- (1482) Let.Cely (PRO S.C.1 53/148)p.178 (194/11) : The wynd was so contrary and the see soo trublys, passage was hallffe see ower wonys or twyse and was ffayne to comme to Calles agayne.
- (1483) Let.Cely (PRO S.C.1 53/163)p.200 (209/52) : On Fryday the xxvij day off Feuerell cam passage ffrom Dower, and they saye that oon Thursday affore cam fforth a passonger ffrom Dower to Calles wardd, and sche was chasyd wyth Frenschemen and drevyn ynto Donkyrke hawen.
- (1484) Let.Cely (PRO S.C.1 53/170)p.211 (215/64) : Ther cam iij passongers ffrom Dower, and ther was ij grett schyppys of war of Frenschemen chasyd them yto the hawen mowthe; and the passages hadd had but a myle to a ron farder they hadd be taken.
c
- (1417) Let.in Ellis Orig.Let.ser.3.163 : Ye oure Chanceller doo make unto thaim soufficeant Writtes of passage, in suche wyse as thai may have redy passage owt of oure land.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.6749 : Þe custom was to no man to denye..entre nor passage.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)502 : For an hundred pound nolde I, If that the passage openly Hadde be unto me free, That I nolde entren.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2987 : He me grauntide full gladly The passage of the outter hay.
- (?c1450) Paston2.57 : I mythe haf a wyrte of passagche directid vn[to] swyche men as..schyd best yife me myn schargche.
d
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)128b/b : Þey þat beþ I-chose makeþ passage fro fleisch to spirit.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)3437 : Who in ȝouth passeth þis passage, he is eskaped..al sorowe and trouble of this present lyff.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)100/13 : Aftyr his passage..he sal be lyft in-to lovynge of his makar.
- a1450 St.Kath.(3) (Richardson 44)67 : Graunt that we mot deserue..good passage out of thys lyf.
- c1450 3 KCol.(2) (Add 31042)628 : Þay triste and vndirstonde Þaire naturelle passage salle newely com one honde.
- c1450 3 KCol.(2) (Add 31042)634 : For þaire passage þay make purveaunce..Theyre toumbis þay made.
- (1470) Will York in Sur.Soc.45184 : My body to be buried in some holy place..at my passage oute of this worlde.
- a1475 Russell Bk.Nurt.(Hrl 4011)507 : New curies..provokethe þe peple to perelles of passage..þrouȝ nice excesse of suche receytes of þe life to make a endynge.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)51/11 : Dethe..is derke and a ferfull passage.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)41/15 : Aftir your passage ye must make acompte.
- a1500 Craft Dying (Rwl C.894)406 : Þe passage of deth owt of the wrecchidnesse of the exile of this world..semith wonderfull harde.
e
- [ (1189) in Rymer's Foedera (1816-69)1.48 : David..& heredes sui..teneant terras..quietas de pontagio, & passagio, & pedagio. ]
- [ (1304) RParl.1.175b : Cives ejusdem Civitatis..sint quieti de theolonio, pontagio, passagio. ]
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)659/12 : Henry, kyng of Englond..charged that the mynchons of Godestowe, and all ther goodis..shold be quyte fro tol, passage, and pountage, and all custome thurgh all his lond of Englond.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)670/18 : Fre tenauntis ought..to be quyte..of tol and passage, of pountage and tallage and lestage, and of all other customs.
2.
(a) A journey, voyage; an expedition, a pilgrimage, crusade; (b) a way, route, course; haven (holden, maken, taken) ~, to make (one's) way, go; (c) a course of action, way, means; a way of life, stage of life, life; pregnancy; holden ~, to carry on a battle or campaign; of deth holden the ~, be mortal; of swich a labour to taken the ~, undertake such a task.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.3291 : He..schop anon for his passage, And..othre knihtes..With him he tok.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)19990 : It was þe first passage þat þe apostels in parti Mad.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.106 : To lond com þe kyng, after þat passage.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)544 : He melez to his eme, & spekez of his passage.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3666 : Hir passage..was not take in good plite of þe mone.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5887 : Þis werme, in his passage, Toke of a serpent þe liknes & ymage.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.6243 : Diane..is..Lady & quene of wayes and passage, And goddes..of viage.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.1790 : Þou dedist ordeyne To þi passage myȝty shippes tweyne.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2714 : Leve hool thin herte in hostage, Till thou ageyn make thi passage.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)3/15 : It is longe tyme passed þat þer was no generall passage ne vyage ouer the see.
- (1426-7) Paston (EETS)1.10 : William Paston..at hese fyrst passage ouer þe see in-to Normandye..was þe styward.
- (1433) RParl.4.425a : He shuld also have ye somme of v c pounde for ye charges yat he most bere and susteigne in his passage from hens thitherward.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.4064 : Himaliho gan compleyne Thunhappi fall of his fatal passage, Whan he was sent..To conquere..The lond of Cecile.
- (1440) Reg.Spofford in Cant.Yk.S.23233 : Thei..bin nowe at Venice, abydynge thaire passage towarde the holy londe.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)96/14 : Þe king took a deuocion for to goo a perlious passage on þe see.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)3.94 : Whanne this ermyte..myght not bydden his bedes..Thanne wolde he gon foorth a grete passage Ryght be the see.
- c1450 Mandev.(4) (CovCRO Acc.325/1)846 : Shippis..for hir passage Takith of that sande for thaire lastage.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)5175 : To Eland es þair passage On fote and als with caryage Be þe se flode.
- (1451) Pet.Hen.VI in Archaeol.Ael.n.s.3185 : In here passage towarde Brigges..the seid shippe was drowned, perished, and loste.
- a1456(?1417) Lydg.DTChaucer (Add 16165)4 : O þow Lucyna..lady and goddesse Of iorneying and fortunate passage, Governe and guye by grace þe vyage.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.290 : Is it nout leful men to begynnyn gret iorneys in þe Sonday of longe pylgrimage or of fer passage?
- a1500(a1470) Brut-1461(1) (Add 10099)526/26 : This Pope..ordeynd A passage Ayenst þe Turks at Ancone, to which moche peple drew, out of al parties of Cristendome.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)14/5 : So many anguisches..stoppe soo moche thi passages that þou art ferde to take any passage vpon the.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)1734 : Whoo vsyd daungerous passages..by watyr or be londe..hys answere redy founde.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.682 : Schipmen..haue suffisaunce y-nowe To guye her passage by Arthouris Plowe.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2843 : To a cheste, wrouȝt of cristal clene, First of al, sche taketh hir passage.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.8370 : He toke þe riȝt weye Toward his foon..And lyne riȝt he holdiþ his passage.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.1813 : His passage was to him vnkouþe.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)666 : On foure fete he makeþ his passage.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1288 : He cam first to Arge..Thorgh the Forest holding his passage.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.4144 : To the court he holdeth his passage.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.5253 : For to make pesible that passage..This Hercules slouh Bisiris.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)32 : Þai..Knew þe kynd & þe curses of þe clere sternys..Þe pasage of þe planettis, þe poyntis & þe sygnes.
- (a1452) Doc.in Kingsford EHist.Lit.(CotR 2.23)363 : The woll and ffell hath course and passage oute of the Ream.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)35/190 : I wot nevyr whedyr to take passage.
c
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.3036 : Ate laste of thi passage, Thi deth was to the houndes like.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1468 : Saue dethe, þer is no passage Of victorie þe palme to conquere.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.6712 : We doon execucioun..of eche sect and age, Þat schal of deth holde þe passage.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)406 : She Was fair sumtyme, and fresh to se, Whan she was in hir rightful age; But she was past al that passage.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.2363 : Thei reconforted heeld themsilff able Ageyn ther fomen to holden ther passage.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)5.97 : Worldli fairnesse..is..transitorie but so be that prudence Gouerne the passage.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.837 : He loste his cheer..Whan I appalled the fyn of his passage.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.2073 : Pompeie..holdyng his passage..Brouht al Affrik to subieccioun.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)8.30 : Thi daies shorte putte the in gret dreed Of swich a labour to take the passage.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)106/257 : She hath conseyvid A son in hyre Age; This is þe sexte monyth of here passage.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)108/327 : I pray ȝow take it in to vsage..to vesyte me ofte be mene passage.
- c1500 Blessid god (Hnt HM 501)100 : [A]fter this schort worldly passage..we may Come to þat heritage.
3.
(a) A road, pathway, thoroughfare; a dangerous place along a road, an ambush; also fig.; (b) a crossing place, mountain pass; a ford or bridge; also, a breach in a wall; (c) a bay or gulf; a strait; (d) a passage in the body; also fig. [quot.: a1475].
Associated quotations
a
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)1323 : Hi makede me reue, To kepe þis passage Fram horn.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2139 : Loke þat hirdemen wel kepe þe komune passage.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)155a/a : Iordan..departeþ hym self..and made hem waie and passage to wende in to þe londe of byhest.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)158b/a : Bosforus..haþ þat name of streyte passage and narow weies of roþeren.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)4 : Men byn bettir rydyng..and bettir knowyng of all contrees and of alle passages.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)617 : He wente..Thorgh a wylde and a waast contre..Wher that monstres..Were..So Inly cruel that no man durst gon..forby that passage.
- (a1422) *Anc.Pet.(PRO)117.5842 : The seide late kyng..grauntede..maners with..parkes, offices, milnes, weres, passages, woddes, [etc.].
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)1394 : Þis world es þe way and passage, Þurgh whilk lyes our pilgrimage.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.2391 : Mong dede bonys..Wer voises..Herd in feeldis, paththis, & passages.
- a1475(1450) Scrope DSP (Bod 943)84/23 : This worlde is a passage for to go into the tother worlde.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)20/35 : At a strayte passage they mette with Ulphuns and Brastias.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)332/5 : He hath had grete labour for my love and passed many dangerous passagis.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)125/9 : Calpurinus Piso..had sent on of his capitaynes to kepe a passage agayn his enmys.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)161/26 : They..passed thoroughe a streyte passage for to com to theim.
- c1475 Guy(1) (Cai 107/176)1636 : At a passage [vr. pas] assailled were we Of stronge theeffis and outelawes.
- a1500(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Stw 952(1))16133 : We charge the..That thow shalt kepe the Passage, To lette hem in ther Pylgrymage.
- a1500(?a1475) Guy(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)989 : We schall kepe thys passage, Thogh we be take wyth gret owtrage.
- a1500 From þe tyme (Hrl 1706)94 : Lord, ȝeue vs grace..þat we may in charyte Welle passe ouer þis passage, In-to the blysse þat euer schal be.
b
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)143.14 : Fallyng ne passage [L transitus] nis nouȝt to her walle.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2155 : They haste hem..Ful couartly to leyn a busshement Vnder a hill at a streite passage.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)177/28-9 : Þat streyt passage men clepen in þat contree Clyron, And þat is the passage þat þe queen of Amazoine maketh to ben kept.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)71/4 : Sche..suffrid him to entre in-to hir reaume..vnto þe tyme þat he was comen in-to streite passagis among hillis & greete mountaynes.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)14012 : Þey byried hym at An heremitage Bysyde Chymoun, at a passage.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)71b : At passages of ryueres and wateres..loke þou haue sodeyn enbusschementis.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)13.321 : And [by] Alle that Roche, passage was non But On, that ful streit was..Whiche was non largere..Thanne As ten Men..Afront myht passen.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)605 : Thei..journeyed on foote..Not oonly in the playn, but also where is A mountayn or a clif or streyt passagys.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)301/30 : There was a grete ryver and but one passage.
- ?a1475 PParv.(Win)324 : Passage ouer a water: Vadum.
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)243/9 : Haniball caused his men to passe the streyghtes and grete marreyses and merueilous passages withoute grete hurte.
- (1477) Paston2.420 : My lord hath do brokyn all the passages excep Newhom bryge.
c
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.55 : Balearis, þe firste greet hauen and passage [Higd.(2): end; L sinus] of þat see, schedeþ into Spayne.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.7133 : He went his weye by þe large se..Be many cost & many narow passage.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.1439 : He & his meyne Be seiled forþe by many stronge se, Many daunger & many streit passage.
- c1460(?c1435) Lydg.Let.Glo.(Hrl 2255)22 : No maryneer durste..caste an ankir for streihtnesse of passage.
d
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)233b/a : Þe tylle..stoppith alle þe passages [L meatus] and weyes of þe body.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)67b/b : It was nedefulle..a weie oþer a passage þoruȝ þe whiche sinewes and veynes..schulde descenden.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)74b/a : Mery & trachee arterie..ar þe passagez of aier & of mete.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)11a/b : Among þise uentriclez..fro one to an oþer, bene passagez [Ch.(2): wayes; L meatus] bi which þe spirites passeþ.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)506/36 : Þe cure..purposeth..to gendre hard and knotty fflesche in þe passage, þat no þing may go doun.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.2 Merch.(Hrl 2255)327 : His vryne was remys..The streihte passage causyd aquosite.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)6457 : The wyttys fyue..I calle the passages, Wherby in passen the massages.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)11201 : The passage in the body Þere þat þe nature shal passe by Is to streite.
4.
The act of surpassing.
Associated quotations
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)62 : If þi beyng schulde passe þi goodnes, þanne in þilke passage and excesse wherynne þi beyng þassiþ [read: passiþ] and is aboue þi goodnes, þere þi beyng were not good.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)213/10 : Þe labour of meditacioun..passiþ þe oþer vocal labour of preising and preiyng..and..weel toward like passage, þe vocal foormes of preising and of preiyng tauȝt bifore..passen summe vocal foormes of preising and of preiyng.
5.
A dice game.
Associated quotations
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.836 : Adevaunte, hasard, and passage; Ȝif on haue Ioye, Anoþer suffereþ wo, Liche as þe bonys renne to and fro.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)11194 : I wyl..pleyn..at the dees..Bothe at hassard & passage.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.55 : The see Elesponte retorte with grete passage turnethe to the northe.
Note: 'passage' seems to translate L anfractibus = turnings, bendings, and that doesn't seem to be covered under the word. Nearest seems to be 2.(b) 'course' or 3.(c) 'strait' . Cp. Trevisa's rendering of same passage. It may, however, rather mean movement, force (per REL)
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. passage.