Way

n. [A. S. weg, from wegan, to move, O. Sax., D., O. & N. H. Ger. weg, M. H. Ger. wec, Icel. vegr, Sw. väg, Dan. vei, Goth. wigs, Lat. via.] 1. A moving; passage; progression; transit; journey. I prythee, now, lead the way. Shak. 2. That by which one passes or progresses; opportunity or room to pass; place of passing; passage; road or path of any kind. “To find the way to heaven.” Shak. Perhaps the way seems difficult. Milton. The season and ways were very improper for his majesty’s forces to march so great a distance. Evelyn.

3. Length of space; distance; interval; as, a great way; a long way.
4. Course, or direction of motion or progress; tendency of action; advance.

If that way be your walk, you have not far. Milton. And let eternal justice take the way. Dryden. 5. Means by which any thing is reached, or any thing is accomplished; scheme; device. My best way is to creep under. Shak. By noble ways we conquests will prepare. Dryden. What impious ways my wishes took! Prior.

6. Manner; method; mode; fashion; as, the way of expressing one’s ideas.
7. Regular course; habitual method of life or action; plan of conduct; mode of dealing. “Having lost the way of nobleness.” Sidney.

All flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. Gen. vi. 12. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. Prov. iii. 17.

8. Determined course; resolved mode of action or conduct; as, to have one’s way.
9. (Naut.) (a.) Progress; as, a ship has way.

(b.) (pl.) The timbers on which a ship is launched. 10. (Mech.) The side of a planer. By the way, in passing; apropos; aside, as a thing apart from, though connected with, the main object or subject.—By way of, as for the purpose of; as being; in character of.—Covert way (Fort.), a covered way. See COVERED.—Half-way, to the middle point; so as to be half finished or arrived at. See HALF-WAY.—In the family way, pregnant; with child. [Colloq.]—In the way, so as to meet, fall in with, obstruct, hinder, and the like.—In the way with, traveling or going with; meeting or being with; in the presence of.—Milky way (Astron.), the Galaxy. See MILKY.—Out of the way. (a.) So as not to fall in with, obstruct, hinder, or the like. (b.) Apart; aside; away from the usual or proper course; odd; unusual; wrong. “We are quite out of the way.” Locke.—Right of way (Law), a right of private passage over another’s ground. It may arise either by grant or prescription. It may be attached to a house, entry, gate, well, or city lot, as well as to a country farm. Kent.—To be under way, to have way (Naut.), to be in motion, as when a ship begins to move. So a ship is said to have headway when she moves forward in her course, and sternway when she is driven astern. She is said also to gather way, or to lose way. Leeway is a movement of a ship aside of her course, or to the leeward.—To give way, to recede; to make room; or to yield; to concede the place or opinion to another. (Naut.) To row or ply the oars vigorously. Totten.—To go one’s way, or to come one’s way, to go or come; to depart or come along. Shak.—To go the way of all the earth, to die.—To make one’s way, to advance in life by efforts; to advance successfully.—To make way, to give room for passing, or to make a vacancy.—Ways and means. (a.) Methods; resources; facilities. (b.) (Legislation.) Means for raising money; resources for revenue.—Ways of God, his providential government, or his works.—Way of the rounds (Fort.), a space left for the passage round between a rampart and the wall of a fortified town. Crabb. Way and ways are used in certain phrases in the sense of wise; as, he is no ways a match for his antagonist. ’Tis no way the interest even of the priesthood. Pope. Syn.—Street; highway; road.—WAY, STREET, HIGHWAY, ROAD. Way is generic, denoting any line for passage or conveyance; a highway is literally one raised for the sake of dryness and convenience in traveling; a road is, strictly, a way for horses and carriages; a street is, etymologically, a paved way, as early made in towns and cities; and, hence, the word is distinctively applied to roads or highways in compact settlements. All keep the broad highway, and take delight With many rather for to go astray. Spenser. There is but one road by which to climb up. Addison. When night Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine. Milton.