The spelling of the phrase "went past" can be explained through its IPA phonetic transcription. The word "went" is pronounced /wɛnt/, with the "w" being a voiced bilabial glide and the "e" being a short vowel. The word "past" is pronounced /pæst/, with the "p" being a voiceless bilabial plosive and the "a" being a short vowel followed by a voiceless alveolar fricative "s" and the voiced alveolar stop "t". Together, they form a common phrase indicating movement beyond a certain point.
"Went past" is a phrasal verb that is used to describe the action of surpassing or exceeding a certain point or limit in a literal or figurative sense. It implies the movement or progress of someone or something beyond a specific location, time, level, or expectation.
In the literal sense, "went past" typically refers to physically moving beyond a particular place, area, or landmark. For example, if someone mentions that they went past a certain street on their way home, it means they traveled beyond that street while on their journey. It can also be used to describe overcoming a set distance or surpassing a certain point in space.
Figuratively, the expression "went past" suggests surpassing a certain level, expectation, or threshold in terms of progress, achievement, or experience. For instance, if someone remarks that they went past their goals, it means they have achieved more than they initially aimed for. It can also describe the ability to overcome obstacles or challenges and make progress beyond them in personal or professional development.
Overall, "went past" denotes movement or progress beyond a specific point, whether it refers to a physical location or a figurative measure such as goals, expectations, or limits. The phrase captures the idea of surpassing or exceeding, indicating movement forward or beyond a certain point or objective.
The word "went" is the past tense of the verb "go", which originates from the Old English word "gān". The Old English "gān" evolved from the Proto-Germanic verb *gāną. This verb is thought to have been derived from the Proto-Indo-European base *ǵʰeh₁- meaning "to leave".
The word "past" comes from the Middle English word "past" or "pæst", which was derived from the Old English word "pæst" meaning "from or of the east". This Old English word is thought to have originated from the Proto-Germanic word *pasta, which means "behind". This Proto-Germanic word was ultimately derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *pos-, meaning "by, near, behind".