Origin and history of freeway

Middle English fre, from Old English freo "exempt from; not in bondage, acting of one's own will," also "noble; joyful," from Proto-Germanic *friaz "beloved; not in bondage" (source also of Old Frisian fri, Old Saxon vri, Old High German vri, German frei, Dutch vrij, Gothic freis "free"), from PIE *priy-a- "dear, beloved," from root *pri- "to love."

The sense evolution from "to love" to "free" is perhaps from the terms "beloved" or "friend" being applied to the free members of one's clan (as opposed to slaves; compare Latin liberi, meaning both "free persons" and "children of a family"). For the older sense in Germanic, compare Gothic frijon "to love;" Old English freod "affection, friendship, peace," friga "love," friðu "peace;" Old Norse friðr "peace, personal security; love, friendship," German Friede "peace;" Old English freo "wife;" Old Norse Frigg, name of the wife of Odin, literally "beloved" or "loving;" Middle Low German vrien "to take to wife," Dutch vrijen, German freien "to woo."

The meaning "clear of obstruction" is from mid-13c.; the sense of "unrestrained in movement" is from c. 1300; of animals, "loose, at liberty, wild," late 14c. The meaning "liberal, not parsimonious" is from c. 1300. The sense of "characterized by liberty of action or expression" is from 1630s; of art, etc., "not holding strictly to rule or form," from 1813. Of nations, "not subject to foreign rule or to despotism," recorded in English from late 14c. (Free world "non-communist nations" attested from 1950 on notion of "based on principles of civil liberty.") Sense of "given without cost" is 1580s, from notion of "free of cost."

Free even to the definition of freedom, "without any hindrance that does not arise out of his own constitution." [Emerson, "The American Scholar," 1837]

Free lunch, originally offered in bars to draw in customers, by 1850, American English. Free pass on railways, etc., attested by 1850. Free speech in Britain was used of a privilege in Parliament since the time of Henry VIII. In U.S., in reference to a civil right to expression, it became a prominent phrase in the debates over the Gag Rule (1836). Free enterprise recorded from 1832; free trade is from 1823; free market from 1630s. Free will is attested from early 13c. Free school is from late 15c. Free association in psychology is from 1899. Free love "sexual liberation" attested from 1822 (the doctrine itself is much older), American English. Free and easy "unrestrained" is from 1690s.

Middle English wei, "established road," from Old English weg (Mercian wæg) "track or path by which some place may be reached, line or course of travel, distance to be travelled."

This is reconstructed to be from Proto-Germanic *wega- "course of travel, way" (source also of Old Saxon, Dutch weg, Old Norse vegr, Old Frisian wei, Old High German weg, German Weg, Gothic wigs "way"). According to Watkins this is from PIE root *wegh- "to go, move, transport in a vehicle," also the source of voyage and wagon.

Other senses in Old English were "room, space, freedom of movement;" also, figuratively, "course of life" especially, in plural, ways, "habits of life" as regards moral, ethical, or spiritual choices. Also "method or manner of proceeding" (right way).

It is attested from mid-13c. as "place of passage, opening in a crowd." To make way "give room for passage" is from c. 1200. In nautical use, "progress through the water," by 1660s.

It is attested by c. 1300 as "manner in which something occurs" and by mid-15c. in reference to state or condition (in a bad way, family way). Phrase in the way of "in the matter or business of" is from 1630s. By way of "for the purpose of" is from 14c.

It is attested by 1590s as "course insisted upon," in get (or have) one's way (1590s), also have it (one's) way (1709). For there to be no two ways about it is by 1818.

Adverbial constructions this way "in this direction," that way "in that direction" are from late 15c. Out of the way "remote from society, not in the usual course" is by c. 1300. In the way "so placed or of such a nature as to impede" is from c. 1500.

From the "course of life" sense comes way of life (c. 1600). From the "course of travel" sense comes the figurative go separate ways (1837); one way or (the) other (1550s); have it both ways (1847); and the figurative sense of come a long way (1922).

To be by the way "along or near the road" was in Old English; figuratively, in discourse, by 1550s; introducing a new remark by 1610s.

To go out of one's way "do more than circumstances require" is by 1748. On my way, expressing intention to hurry and arrive quickly, is attested by 1919. In Middle English, by woods and ways was an alliterative way to say "everywhere."

Encouragement phrase way to go is short for that's the way to go. Adverbial phrase all the way "completely, to conclusion" is by 1915; the sexual sense is implied by 1924.

Ways and means "resources at a person's disposal" is attested from early 15c. (with means (n.)).