pass away

English

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Verb

pass away (third-person singular simple present passes away, present participle passing away, simple past and past participle passed away)

1. (euphemistic, idiomatic) To die.

   After a long battle with cancer, the professor passed away yesterday.

   • 1921 June, Margery Williams, “The Velveteen Rabbit: Or How Toys Become Real”, in Harper’s Bazar, volume LVI, number 6 (2504 overall), New York, N.Y.: International Magazine Company, →ISSN, →OCLC:

     He was wise, for he had seen a long succession of mechanical toys arrive to boast and swagger, and by-and-by break their mainsprings and pass away.

2. (archaic, literary) To disappear; to cease to be; to be no more.
   • c. 1587–1588, [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. The First Part , 2nd edition, part 1, London: Richard Iones, , published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire, London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act I, scene i:

     Returne with ſpeed, time paſſeth ſwift away,
     Our life is fraile, and we may dye to day.

   • 1611, The Holy Bible,  (King James Version), London: Robert Barker, , →OCLC, Revelation 21:4:

     And there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

   • 1946 May and June, J. Alan Rannie, “The Midland of 35 Years Ago”, in Railway Magazine, page 200:

     Though the writer has striven to dwell on aspects that have passed, or are passing away, it will be apparent that many features of Midland practice have been adopted as standard for the L.M.S.R. and other railways.

3. (obsolete) To spend; to waste.
   • 1611, The Holy Bible,  (King James Version), London: Robert Barker, , →OCLC, Wisdom of Sirach of Sirach-Chapter-42/#9 42:9:

     Lest she pass away the flower of her age.

Usage notes

Usually refers to death by natural causes or medical conditions.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:die

Translations