from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
pace \pace\ (p[=a]s), n. [OE. pas, F. pas, from L. passus a
step, pace, orig., a stretching out of the feet in walking;
cf. pandere, passum, to spread, stretch; perh. akin to E.
patent. Cf. {Pas}, {Pass}.]
1. A single movement from one foot to the other in walking; a
step.
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2. The length of a step in walking or marching, reckoned from
the heel of one foot to the heel of the other; -- used as
a unit in measuring distances; as, he advanced fifty
paces. "The height of sixty pace ." --Chaucer.
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Note: Ordinarily the pace is estimated at two and one half
linear feet; but in measuring distances be stepping,
the pace is extended to three feet (one yard) or to
three and three tenths feet (one fifth of a rod). The
regulation marching pace in the English and United
States armies is thirty inches for quick time, and
thirty-six inches for double time. The Roman pace
(passus) was from the heel of one foot to the heel of
the same foot when it next touched the ground, five
Roman feet.
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3. Manner of stepping or moving; gait; walk; as, the walk,
trot, canter, gallop, and amble are paces of the horse; a
swaggering pace; a quick pace. --Chaucer.
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To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day. --Shak.
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In the military schools of riding a variety of paces
are taught. --Walsh.
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4. A slow gait; a footpace. [Obs.] --Chucer.
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5. Specifically, a kind of fast amble; a rack.
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6. Any single movement, step, or procedure. [R.]
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The first pace necessary for his majesty to make is
to fall into confidence with Spain. --Sir W.
Temple.
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7. (Arch.) A broad step or platform; any part of a floor
slightly raised above the rest, as around an altar, or at
the upper end of a hall.
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8. (Weaving) A device in a loom, to maintain tension on the
warp in pacing the web.
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9. The rate of progress of any process or activity; as, the
students ran at a rapid pace; the plants grew at a
remarkable pace.
[PJC]
{Geometrical pace}, the space from heel to heel between the
spot where one foot is set down and that where the same
foot is again set down, loosely estimated at five feet, or
by some at four feet and two fifths. See {Roman pace} in
the Note under def. 2. [Obs.]
{To keep pace with} or {To hold pace with}, to keep up with;
to go as fast as. "In intellect and attainments he kept
pace with his age." --Southey.
{To put (someone) through one's paces} to cause (someone) to
perform an act so as to demonstrate his/her skill or
ability.
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