via English · revision 3291

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1779|origins=ine-pro *wegh-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈvaɪ.ə/, US also /ˈviː.ə/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|viā|t=by way of]], the ablative of [[m|la|via|t=way, road, path, channel]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[ine-pro|*wegh-|t=to go, move, transport in a vehicle]], which is also the source of English [[way]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) Barnhart compares Oscan viu “way, road”.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “By way of, by the route passing through”: 1779.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The Latin noun appears in English earlier in phrases: ''Via Lactea'', the Milky Way, from 1615, and ''via media'', a middle course, from 1834.^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) The wider sense “by means of, with the help of” is from 1930.^(OED 1989) An unrelated interjection ''via'', “come on!, away!”, from Italian, was used by Shakespeare and his contemporaries from 1596.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1596 – the interjection via, from Italian.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1615 – ''Via Lactea'', the Milky Way.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1779 – by way of.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1834 – ''via media''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1930 – by means of.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Preposition===

+ # By way of; passing through: ''flew to Rome via Paris''.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # By means of: ''sent via email''.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Via Crucis]]

+ * [[Via Dolorosa]]

+ * [[via media]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[viaticum]]

+ * [[viator]]

+ * [[way]]

+ * [[viaduct]]

+ * [[deviate]]

+ * [[devious]]

+ * [[trivial]]

+ * [[convey]]

+ * [[envoy]]

+ * [[voyage]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In Latin phrases ''via'' is a noun, “road, way”: the ''Via Appia'' and other Roman roads, and the ''Via Dolorosa'', the route Jesus is believed to have taken to his crucifixion.^(Cresswell 2021)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}