pave

Etymology

From Old French paver (“to pave, to cover”), from Vulgar Latin *pavāre (“to beat down, to smash”), from Latin pavīre, present active infinitive of paviō (“I beat, strike, ram, tread down”).

verb

1. (Britain) To cover something with paving slabs.
2. (Canada, US) To cover with stone, concrete, blacktop or other solid covering, especially to aid travel.
   They paved Paradise and put up a parking lot. 1970, Joni Mitchell (lyrics and music), “Big Yellow Taxi”, in Ladies of the Canyon
3. (transitive, figurative) To pave the way for; to make easy and smooth.
   After two weeks Miguel began to circulate freely about the city in his truck, albeit with the long, chrome-plated pistol cocked and ready on his lap. It wouldn't be for three more years that Gonzo would tell Miguel about the secret leverage that paved his path to freedom. 2011, Rice Baker-Yeboah, The Animal Pathways 1-2, page 110