passim

English

WOTD – 2 January 2007    

Etymology

From the Latin passim (“here and there, everywhere”).

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈpæsɪm/, X-SAMPA: /"p{s.Im/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adverb

passim (not comparable)

1. throughout or frequently
2. here and there

Quotations

• 1751 — David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals

  The sceptics assert [Sext. Emp. adrersus Math. lib. viii.], though absurdly, that the origin of all religious worship was derived from the utility of inanimate objects, as the sun and moon, to the support and well-being of mankind. This is also the common reason assigned by historians, for the deification of eminent heroes and legislators [Diod. Sic. passim.].

• 1978 — Supreme Court of the United States, F.C.C. v. Pacifica Foundation

  See also Hearings on H.R.8825 before the House Committee on the Merchant Marine and Fisheries, 70th Cong., 1st Sess., passim (1928).

Usage notes

• used especially with the name of a book or writer to indicate that something (as a word, phrase, or idea) is to be found at many places in the same book or writer's work
• for example, in Private Eye magazine, articles that relate to long-running stories would refer to (Eyes passim)

Translations

throughout; frequently

here and there

• German: passim (de)

• Japanese: あっちこっち (ja) (acchi kocchi)
• Latin: passim (la)

Anagrams

• sampis

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Latin

Etymology

From passus (“spread out”), from pandō (“I spread”).

Adverb

passim (not comparable)

1. everywhere (almost synonymous to ubique)
2. here and there, hither and thither; (at or to different places)

Descendants

• English: passim