passage

Everyday

1. A passage is a narrow way, like a corridor or path, that you go along. tree →
2. A passage is a short part of a book, speech or piece of music. tree →
3. A passage is a journey, especially by ship. tree →
4. The passage of time means time going by. tree →
5. (formal) Passage of a law means it being accepted. tree →

In the lessons

In English lessons pupils read a passage and answer questions about it (reading comprehension). In buildings a passage joins rooms. In history ships made the passage across the ocean. In stories secret passages hide behind walls. Phrases: a secret passage, read the passage, the passage of time, rite of passage.

Examples

• Read the passage and answer the questions below. tree →
• A dark passage led to the kitchen. tree →
• They found a secret passage behind the bookcase. tree →
• The passage across the sea took three weeks. tree →
• With the passage of time the scar faded. tree →
• The teacher read us a passage from the story. tree →
• Keep the passage clear in case of fire. tree →
• The pianist played a difficult passage beautifully. tree →
• However, she heard the king coming along the passage. tree →

Note

Countable: a passage, passages. Pronounced PASS-ij. Related to «pass». In a house in the UK a passage is often called a hallway or corridor. Do not confuse with «message» or «passenger».

In Jewish tradition

Edom refuses Israel passage through its border, so Israel goes round.

Interpretation. The rabbis read this as a lesson about how Israel treated its relatives, the descendants of Esau. Commentators study each passage of the Sefer Yetzirah and the Talmud in detail.

Examples

• Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border; wherefore Israel turned away from him. (Torah NUM.20.21, JPS 1917) tree →
• This passage is explained by Isaac Satanow in his Hebrew Dictionary entitled Sephath Emeth, p. 44, b: (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) tree →
• The same passage is mentioned in the Talmud treatise Chagigah, p. 12, a, with the addition of (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) tree →

Note

Countable: a passage, passages. Pronounced PASS-ij. Related to «pass». In a house in the UK a passage is often called a hallway or corridor. Do not confuse with «message» or «passenger».