passe

¹

[ pahs ]

noun

, French.

1. the numbers 19 through 36 in roulette.

passé

²

[ pa-sey; French pah-sey ]

adjective

1. no longer fashionable, in wide use, etc.; out-of-date; outmoded:

   There were many photographs of passé fashions. I thought hand-cranked pencil sharpeners were passé.

   Synonyms: quaint, démodé, old-fashioned

2. past:

   time passé.

3. past the prime of one's life.

noun

, plural pas·sés [pa-, seyz, pah-, sey].

1. Ballet. a movement in which one leg passes behind or in front of the other.

passé

/ ˈpɑseɪ; pɑse; ˈpɑːseɪ /

adjective

1. out-of-date

   passé ideas

2. past the prime; faded

   a passé society beauty

Word History and Origins

Origin of passe¹

Literally, “passing, pass”

Origin of passe²

1765–75; < French, past participle of passer to pass

Word History and Origins

Origin of passe¹

C18: from French, past participle of passer to pass

Related Words

• corny
• obsolete
• odd
• outdated
• outmoded
• unfashionable