‘way

[wey] /weɪ/
adverb
also, ‘way. away; from this or that place:
go way.
to a great degree or at quite a distance; far:
way too heavy; way down the road.
way
/weɪ/
noun
a manner, method, or means a way of life, a way of knowing
a route or direction the way home

a means or line of p-ssage, such as a path or track
(in combination) waterway

sp-ce or room for movement or activity (esp in the phrases make way, in the way, out of the way)
distance, usually distance in general you’ve come a long way
a p-ssage or journey on the way
characteristic style or manner i did it in my own way
(often pl) habits; idiosyncrasies he has some offensive ways
an aspect of something; particular in many ways he was right

a street in or leading out of a town
(capital when part of a street name) icknield way

something that one wants in a determined manner (esp in the phrases get or have one’s (own) way)
the experience or sphere in which one comes into contact with things (esp in the phrase come one’s way)
(informal) a state or condition, usually financial or concerning health (esp in the phrases in a good (or bad) way)
(informal) the area or direction of one’s home drop in if you’re ever over my way
movement of a ship or other vessel
a right of way in law
a guide along which something can be moved, such as the surface of a lathe along which the tailstock slides
(pl) the wooden or metal tracks down which a ship slides to be launched
a course of life including experiences, conduct, etc the way of sin
(archaic) calling or trade
(sentence modifier) by the way, in p-ssing or incidentally
by way of

via
serving as by way of introduction
in the state or condition of by way of being an artist

each way, (of a bet) laid on a horse, dog, etc, to win or gain a place
give way

to collapse or break down
to withdraw or yield

give way to

to step aside for or stop for
to give full rein to (emotions, etc)

go out of one’s way, to take considerable trouble or inconvenience oneself
have a way with, to have such a manner or skill as to handle successfully
have it both ways, to enjoy two things that would normally contradict each other or be mutually exclusive
in a way, in some respects
in no way, not at all
lead the way

to go first
to set an example or precedent

make one’s way

to proceed or advance
to achieve success in life

(informal) no way, that is impossible
(informal) on the way out

becoming unfashionable, obsolete, etc
dying

out of the way

removed or dealt with so as to be no longer a hindrance
remote
unusual and sometimes improper

pay one’s way, see pay1 (sense 11)
see one’s way, see one’s way clear, to find it possible and be willing (to do something)
(irish) the way, so that i left early the way i would avoid the traffic
under way, having started moving or making progress
adverb
(informal)

at a considerable distance or extent way over yonder
very far they’re way up the mountain

(informal) by far; considerably way better
(slang) truly; genuinely they have a way cool site
word origin
old english weg; related to old frisian wei, old norse vegr, gothic wigs
way
o.e. weg “road, path, course of travel,” from p.gmc. -wegaz (cf. o.s., du. weg, o.n. vegr, o.fris. wei, o.h.g. weg, ger. weg, goth. wigs “way”), from pie -wegh- “to move” (see weigh). most of the extended senses developed in m.e. adj. meaning “very, extremely” is early 1980s, perhaps from phrase all the way. wayfaring is o.e. wegfarende; ways and means “resources at a person’s disposal” is attested from c.1430. way-out (adj.) “original, bold,” is jazz slang, first recorded 1940s.
way
adverb

very; extremely; absolutely; to the max: one of the way coolest in the us (1980s+)
affirmation

yes; on the contrary •used as a response to the negative ”no way!” (1990s+)
related terms

beat one’s way, the french way, go out of one’s way, go the limit, the greek way, the hard way, in a big way, know one’s way around, not a one-way street, no way, rub someone the wrong way, there’s no way

[may have developed from all the way, attested along with way, both meaning ”very” in prison slang of the 1980s]