way

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way road, path; course of travel, life, or action, distance travelled. OE. weġ = OS., OHG. (Du., G.) weg, ON. vegr, Goth. wigs :- Gmc. *weʒaz, f. *weʒ- move, journey, carry:- IE. *weĝh-, repr. also by L. vehere carry.
So phr. under way (naut.) having begun to move through the water. XVIII. — Du. onderweg; whence perh. sense ‘rate of progress, velocity’ XVIII.

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