bypass
UK[ˈbaɪpɑːs]US[ˈbaɪpæs]
n
a road that passes around a town or city rather than through its center.
n
a secondary channel, pipe, or connection that allows something to flow around a main route or system.
v
to avoid something by going around it.
v
to avoid following a rule or official procedure.
Morpheme Breakdown
by
pass
by
near, secondary
pass
to go
Etymology
The word 'bypass' is a transparent compound formed from the English words 'by' and 'pass'. Its logic is entirely literal: a route that allows one to 'pass by' a central or congested point. The term emerged in the early 19th century, initially referring to a secondary channel for water or gas, before being applied to roads in the 20th century with the rise of automobile traffic planning. The metaphorical extension to mean avoiding rules or procedures follows naturally from the core concept of circumventing a primary or obstructive path.
Analysis
Structure: by (near, secondary) + pass (to go)
by: Old English; preposition/adverb meaning "near, at hand, secondary."
pass: Old French; verb meaning "to go, to proceed."
Examples
They took the bypass to avoid the city's rush hour traffic.
The surgeon performed a coronary bypass to restore blood flow to the heart.
He tried to bypass the standard application process by contacting the manager directly.