Pacing

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈpeɪsɪŋ/

Definitions

1. The practice of moving in a repeated pattern within a confined space; the speed at which a person engages in an activity; the technique of regulating the flow or rhythm of events to reach a targeted objective
2. The act of walking repeatedly in a limited area ; the rate at which an action is performed ; the method of adjusting timing to influence progression
3. Moving back and forth in a fixed space ; how fast something happens or is done ; the skill of managing how quickly events unfold

Etymology: Walking back and forth in a small space is the oldest sense of this word's root. "Pace" comes from Latin "passus," a single stride, measured as the distance covered when one foot moves forward past the other. The Romans used "passus" as a unit of length, roughly two of our steps, and the Latin word passed through Old French "pas" into Middle English as "pase" (the Anglo-Norman form was "pas"). "Pace" is a doublet of "pass" and of "fathom," meaning these three words all come from the same ancient root but took different routes into English. "Fathom" once meant the span of outstretched arms, a measure of length that survives in nautical depth. The verb "pace" kept the walking sense, so a person who paces is literally retracing strides. Other meanings grew from the idea of steady movement: the speed at which something happens, and the timing used to control how a sequence unfolds.

Synonyms: walking, striding, marching, treading, strolling

Antonyms: standing still, sitting, remaining, stagnating, pausing