Outpassing

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Exceeding or going beyond a certain limit, amount, or standard
2. Surpassing a set boundary or level in extent or degree
3. Passing beyond an established threshold or exceeding what is typical

Etymology: "Outpassing" is the present participle of "outpass," a verb formed in English by adding the prefix "out-" to "pass." The "out-" prefix in Old English and later English usage carries the sense of going beyond, surpassing, or exceeding something, as in "outrun," "outlive," and "outshine." So the word is a transparent compound: to outpass something is to pass beyond it, moving past a limit or surpassing another in degree. "Pass" itself comes from Old French "passer," which traces back to Vulgar Latin "passare," meaning to step or go across, and ultimately to Latin "passus," a step or pace. The Latin root thus describes a physical movement of the feet, and English later stretched it to cover moving through a boundary, a gate, or a limit. Dictionaries record "outpass" as a relatively uncommon and largely literary formation, so its exact date of first use in English is uncertain.

Synonyms: exceeding, surpassing, outdoing

Antonyms: falling short, underperforming