Dictionary phrase *pete- passen aufpassen Pass auf…
(phrase)

Meanings

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Word of the Day - "passen"

We'll take a thorough look at the meaning of "passen", how to use it and its various cool prefix versions and pass by "passieren". A vocabulary turbo boost :)

Vocab:

passen, reinpassen, raufpassen, anpassen, die Anpassung, aufpassen, passieren


Word Family

Root: *pete-

The original sense of the root was:

spreading, expanding

The most influential branch is probably the one around “pass” which is based on the idea of extending your leg to make a step. But there are other offspring as well.

Here’s an overview over the various English members of that family:

  • pass (Originally: “taking a step”,  also to take a measure, so there’s a sense of the “expanse” in it)
  • passage, passenger, passport
  • expand, expansive (The root combined with the “ex”-prefix which here expresses “outward”)
  • patent (Originally: “lying open” for an “open letter”)
  • fathom (Originally a measure done by stretching out the arms, then shifted toward embracing, grasping)
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