passport
UK[ˈpɑːspɔːt]US[ˈpæspɔːrt]
n
An official document issued by a government, certifying the holder's identity and citizenship and entitling them to travel under its protection to and from foreign countries.
n
Something that enables someone to achieve or obtain something.
Morpheme Breakdown
pass
port
pass
to go by, cross, or pass
port
harbor, haven
Etymology
The word 'passport' entered English in the late 15th century from the Middle French 'passeport', itself a compound of 'passer' (to pass) and 'port' (a harbor or gate). Its literal, original meaning was a document authorizing one to "pass through the port" or city gate, essentially a safe-conduct pass for travelers. Over time, as international travel by sea became common, the term became specifically associated with official permission to leave or enter a country's harbors. This concrete meaning of a travel document later evolved metaphorically to signify anything that provides access or admission to a new condition, opportunity, or place.
Analysis
Structure: pass + port
- pass: From Middle English 'passen', from Old French 'passer', meaning "to go by, cross, or pass". In this compound, it functions as a verb root implying "to go through".
- port: From Middle English, from Old French 'port', from Latin 'portus' meaning "harbor, haven". In this compound, it functions as a noun root meaning "gateway or point of entry/exit".
Examples
She renewed her passport before the trip to Europe.
A good education can be a passport to a better career.
The officer carefully checked the stamps in his passport.