highway
UK[ˈhaɪweɪ]US[ˈhaɪweɪ]
n
a main road for traveling long distances, especially one connecting and going through cities and towns
Morpheme Breakdown
high
way
high
main, principal, exalted
way
road, path, course of travel
Etymology
the word "highway" is a compound formed from two old english elements: "heah" (high) and "weg" (way or road). in this context, "high" did not primarily refer to physical elevation but rather to importance or status, denoting a main or principal road. the "way" component straightforwardly indicates a path for passage. thus, a "highway" was originally the main public road, distinguished from local byways or private paths. this concept of a major, publicly maintained thoroughfare has persisted into modern usage, now specifically referring to major roads designed for high-speed, long-distance travel.
Analysis
Structure: high + way
high (old english, meaning "main, principal, exalted"); way (old english, meaning "road, path, course of travel")
Examples
the interstate highway system connects all major cities across the country.
traffic was moving slowly on the congested highway.
they drove all night on the highway to reach their destination by morning.