The chosen way toward a thing — direction plus manner, decided before the first step.

A path followed, and a structured body of teaching. Both are routes laid out in advance.

Proceeding in a straight line, one step per step. Linearity is an assumption more often than an observation.

A way worn by being walked. Not built - a path is the record that others went first.

A path left by passage, and the following of it. Also one recorded piece among several.