A path is a track or way made for walking, often through grass, woods, or a park. It can also mean a way of doing things or a direction your life takes.
“Path” comes from Old English *pæþ*, whose deeper roots are uncertain but may link to old words about walking or traveling. It’s one of those very old, basic words that have been used for centuries with almost the same meaning.
We use “path” for dirt trails and also for life choices, like a career path. Your brain quietly treats decisions like walking through a landscape: you choose one direction and not another. Language shows how we imagine life as a journey without even noticing.
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