en passant

en pas·sant

adv \ˌäⁿ-ˌpä-ˈsäⁿ, -pə-\

Definition of EN PASSANT

1

: in passing

2

—used in chess of the capture of a pawn as it makes a first move of two squares by an enemy pawn that threatens the first of these squares

Examples of EN PASSANT

1. <she mentioned en passant that she'd been to New York>

Origin of EN PASSANT

French

First Known Use: 1665

Related to EN PASSANT

Synonyms: apropos, incidentally

Related Words: digressively, excursively, interjectionally, parenthetically, secondarily, tangentially

[+]more[-]hide

Rhymes with EN PASSANT

accouchement, aide-de-camp, au courant, battement, bien-pensant, ci-devant, contretemps, debridement, denouement, fainéant, insouciant, Maupassant, Orléans, Perpignan, rapprochement, revenant, se tenant, soi-disant, vol-au-vent