I. pace ˈpās noun
Etymology: Middle English pas, from Anglo-French, stride, step, from Latin passus, from pandere to spread — more at fathom
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : rate of movement ; especially : an established rate of locomotion
b. : rate of progress ; specifically : parallel rate of growth or development
supplies kept pace with demand
c. : an example to be emulated ; specifically : first place in a competition
three strokes off the pace — Time
d.
(1) : rate of performance or delivery : tempo
a steady pace
on pace to set a record
especially : speed
serves with great pace
a pace bowler in cricket
(2) : rhythmic animation : fluency
writes with color, with zest, and with pace — Amy Loveman
2. : a manner of walking : tread
3.
a. : step 2a(1)
b. : any of various units of distance based on the length of a human step
4.
a. plural : an exhibition or test of skills or capacities
the trainer put the tiger through its pace s
b. : gait ; especially : a fast 2-beat gait (as of the horse) in which the legs move in lateral pairs and support the animal alternately on the right and left legs
II. pace verb
( paced ; pac·ing )
Date: 1513
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to walk with often slow or measured tread
b. : to move along : proceed
2. : to go at a pace — used especially of a horse
transitive verb
1.
a. : to measure by pacing — often used with off
paced off a 10-yard penalty
b. : to cover at a walk
could hear him pacing the floor
2. : to cover (a course) by pacing — used of a horse
3.
a. : to set or regulate the pace of
taught them how to pace their solos for…impact — Richard Goldstein
also : to establish a moderate or steady pace for (oneself)
b.
(1) : to go before : precede
(2) : to set an example for : lead
c. : to keep pace with
III. pa·ce ˈpā-(ˌ)sē; ˈpä-(ˌ)chā, -(ˌ)kā preposition
Etymology: Latin, ablative of pac-, pax peace, permission — more at pact
Date: 1863
: contrary to the opinion of — usually used as an expression of deference to someone's contrary opinion; usually italic
easiness is a virtue in grammar, pace old-fashioned grammarians — Philip Howard