compass

compass
\ \ [13] The notion underlying compass is of ‘measuring out with paces’. It originated as a verb, Vulgar Latin *compassāre ‘pace out’, a compound formed from the Latin intensive prefix com- and passus (source of English pace).
\ \ This passed into Old French as compasser ‘measure’, and thence into English. The derived Old French noun compas was early applied to a pivoted two-armed measuring and drawing instrument, presumably inspired equally by the ideas ‘stepping’ and ‘measuring’, and English acquired this sense in the 14th century. The use of the word for a magnetic direction indicator, which dates from the 16th century, may be due to the device’s circular container.
\ \ Cf.⇒ PACE

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Compass — Com pass (k[u^]m pas), n. [F. compas, fr. LL. compassus circle, prop., a stepping together; com + passus pace, step. See {Pace}, {Pass}.] 1. A passing round; circuit; circuitous course. [1913 Webster] They fetched a compass of seven day s journey …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Compass-G1 — Major contractors CAST Bus DFH 3 Mission type Navigation Launch date 16 January 2010 Carrier rocket …   Wikipedia

  • COMPASS — is an acronym for COMP rehensive ASS embler. COMPASS is a macro assembly language on Control Data Corporation s 3000 series, and on the 60 bit CDC 6000 series, 7600 and Cyber 70 and 170 series mainframe computers.There are two flavors of COMPASS… …   Wikipedia

  • COMPASS-1 — Typ: CubeSat Land: Deutschland Behörde: FH Aachen, FB6 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Compass — steht für Compass (Satellitennavigation) der Name des chinesischen Satellitennavigationssystems Compass Group ein britisches Nahrungsmittelunternehmen COMPASS Experiment ein Detektor am Teilchenbeschleuniger SPS COMPASS 1 ein von Studenten… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Compass-1 — Operator Fachhochschule Aachen Bus 1U CubeSat Mission type Remote Sensing/Imaging Technology Demonstration Launch date 03:53:51 GMT, 28 April 2008 …   Wikipedia

  • Compass — Com pass (k[u^]m pas), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Compassed} (k[u^]m past); p. pr. & vb. n. {Compassing}.] [F. compasser, LL. compassare.] 1. To go about or entirely round; to make the circuit of. [1913 Webster] Ye shall compass the city seven times.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Compass FM — City of license Grimsby Broadcast area North East Lincolnshire Slogan The Music You Love Frequency …   Wikipedia

  • COMPASS — steht für Compass (Satellitennavigation) der Name des chinesischen Satellitennavigationssystems COMPASS Experiment ein Detektor am Teilchenbeschleuniger SPS COMPASS 1 ein von Studenten entwickelter Kleinsatellit Kinder und Jugend… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • COMPASS-2 — (auch Compass Two) ist ein Kleinsatellit im CubeSat Format, den Studenten der FH Aachen und derzeit zwei Diplomanden der RWTH Aachen seit Anfang 2009 entwickeln. Er soll ein Triple CubeSat werden und ist mit 100x100x340,5 mm³ und ca. 4 kg Masse… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • COMPASS 1 — COMPASS 1, auch Compass One ist ein Kleinsatellit im CubeSat Format, den Studenten der Fachhochschule Aachen seit 2003 entwickeln. Er wiegt ungefähr ein Kilogramm. Seine Galliumarsenid Solarpanele liefern eine elektrische Leistung von zwei Watt.… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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