A main road or highway, especially in ancient Rome. (Mainly used in set phrases, below.)
"The Roman army marched along the imperial via to reach the border fortress."
In plain English: A via is an old-fashioned word for a road or path that you travel on to get somewhere else.
"The package was delivered via special courier service to ensure it arrived safely."
By way of; passing through.
"We traveled to London via Paris on our European tour."
Away! Be off!
"Via, take your leave immediately and do not return to the house."
A surname.
"The local historian wrote a book about Mr. Via, who was known for his extensive collection of antique maps."
Via comes from the Latin word for "road" and entered English alongside its possible doublet, way. While originally meaning a physical path or route, it later took on specialized meanings such as vertical interconnect access in electronics.