passageway
UK: ˈpæsɪdʒweɪ | US: ˈpæsɪdʒweɪ
n. a narrow path or channel that allows passage from one place to another
n. a corridor or hallway connecting rooms or sections of a building
passageway = passage<path> + way<route>
- passage (from Old French passage, "a crossing, path," derived from Latin passus "step, pace")
- way (from Old English weg, "path, road," from Proto-Germanic wegaz)
Etymology Origin:
The word passageway combines two synonymous roots (passage and way) to emphasize the function of a designated path for movement. Both morphemes trace back to ancient terms for travel or stepping (passus in Latin, wegaz in Germanic), reflecting the universal human need to name transit routes. The doubling of meaning reinforces the word’s specificity—a physical channel designed for passage.
The secret passageway led from the library to the garden.
The museum’s passageway was lined with historical artifacts.
We hurried through the dimly lit passageway to escape.
The ship’s narrow passageway made it difficult to carry luggage.
A hidden passageway connected the two castles underground.