Every act of 'passing' is, at root, taking a step — from Latin 'passus' (a step) and PIE *peth2-.
To move past or through something; to go by; to transfer to another person; to succeed in a test or examination.
From Middle English 'passen,' borrowed from Old French 'passer' (to step, walk, pass by, cross over), from Vulgar Latin *passāre (to step, walk), derived from Latin 'passus' (step, pace), the past participle of 'pandere' (to spread, stretch, extend), from PIE *peth₂- (to spread, extend). The original image is of taking a step — extending the leg to move forward. The word's extraordinary range of meanings in English all