doorway
UK[ˈdɔː.weɪ]US[ˈdɔːr.weɪ]
n
An opening in a wall where a door is fitted.
n
A means of entering, leaving, or accessing something.
Morpheme Breakdown
door
way
door
way
Etymology
The word 'doorway' is a transparent compound formed from two native English elements. 'Door' originates from the Proto-Germanic durz, which itself derives from the Proto-Indo-European root dhwer-, meaning "door, doorway, gate." This root is the source for door-related words across many Indo-European languages. 'Way' comes from the Proto-Germanic wegaz, tracing back to the PIE root wegh-, meaning "to go, transport." The compound 'doorway' therefore literally means "the path or passage of a door," logically evolving from its concrete architectural sense to a metaphorical sense denoting any point of access or opportunity.
Analysis
Structure: door + way
- door: From Old English 'duru' or 'dor', meaning a portal, gate, or entrance. Its functional role is as the core noun, specifying the object that fills the opening.
- way: From Old English 'weg', meaning a path, road, or course. Its functional role is as a noun, specifying the nature of the space or passage.
Examples
She stood in the doorway, hesitating before entering the room.
The new policy opened a doorway to significant reforms.
Light from the hallway spilled into the dark kitchen through the open doorway.