The spelling of the two-word phrase "passed in" is quite straightforward when broken down phonetically. "Passed" is pronounced /pæst/, with the letter "a" sounding like the "a" in "cat." "In" is pronounced /ɪn/, with the letter "i" sounding like the "i" in "sit." When combined, the two words create the meaning of someone or something moving past a specific point or entering a space. Proper spelling is essential when using this phrase in written communication.
The idiom "passed in" is used to describe a situation where an item or object, such as a work of art or a piece of merchandise, does not sell or is not bought during an auction, usually due to the lack of bidding or an unsatisfactory reserve price being set. When an item is "passed in," it means that it has not been sold and is either returned to its owner or remains available for further auctioning. This term is commonly used in the context of art auctions or sales of high-value items, where potential buyers are given the opportunity to bid on the item until a specified reserve price is met.
During an auction, the auctioneer starts the bidding process by announcing an opening price, and interested buyers then place increasingly higher bids. However, if no one places a bid or meets the reserve price set by the auctioneer, the item is "passed in." This means that it remains unsold, and the auctioneer moves on to the next item. In some cases, the auctioneer may negotiate privately with potential buyers after the auction to try and close a sale for the item that was "passed in."
In summary, "passed in" refers to the situation where an item or object does not sell during an auction due to a lack of bidding or an unsatisfactory reserve price, and it either remains unsold or is returned to the owner.
The term "passed in" does not have a specific etymology of its own because it is formed by combining two separate words: "passed" and "in".
The word "passed" comes from the Old French word "passer", which means "to go by" or "to cross" and can also be traced back to the Latin word "passus", meaning "a step" or "a pace". Over time, "passed" evolved into its current meaning of moving past or continuing beyond a particular point.
The word "in" has its origins in Old English, where it was spelled "inn". It stems from the Proto-Germanic word "inni", meaning "inside" or "within".
Therefore, when combined, "passed in" simply means to move or progress into a particular place or state.