pace
UK[peɪs]US[peɪs]
n
the speed at which someone or something moves, or with which something happens or changes
n
a single step taken when walking or running
v
to walk with regular steps, often because you are worried or nervous
v
to set the speed for a race or to be the leader in a race or competition
Etymology
The English word 'pace' entered the language in the late 13th century via Anglo-French and Old French 'pas', meaning "a step, stride, trace," which itself descended from the Latin 'passus'. The Latin term 'passus' is a noun formed from the past participle of the verb 'pandere', meaning "to stretch or spread out," specifically referring to the action of stretching the legs in walking. This literal sense of a measured stride evolved naturally into the concept of a unit of distance and, by metaphorical extension, the rate or speed at which such strides are taken. Thus, the journey from the physical act of stretching one's leg to the modern abstract meanings encompassing speed, rhythm, and measured progression is a clear example of semantic broadening rooted in a concrete action.
Analysis
The word 'pace' is a simplex word borrowed into English as a whole unit. It originates from the Latin word 'passus', meaning "a step, stride, pace," derived from the past participle of 'pandere', "to stretch (the leg), spread out."
Examples
She slowed her pace as she reached the steep part of the hill.
The project is proceeding at a steady pace.
He paced back and forth in the waiting room, anxious for news.