Journey, n.; pl. Journeys.
Etymology: [OE. jornee, journee, prop., a day's journey, OF. jornée, jurnée, a day, a day's work of journey, F. journée, fr. OF. jorn, jurn, jor a day, F. jour, fr. L. diurnus. See Journal.]
1. The travel or work of a day. [Obs.] Chaucer. We have yet large day, for scarce the sun Hath finished half his journey. Milton.
2. Travel or passage from one place to another; hence, figuratively, a passage through life. The good man . . . is gone a long journey. Prov. vii. 19. We must all have the same journey's end. Bp. Stillingfleet.
Syn. -- Tour; excursion; trip; expedition; pilgrimage. -- Journey, Tour, Excursion, Pilgrimage. The word journey suggests the idea of a somewhat prolonged traveling for a specific object, leading a person to pass directly from one point to another. In a tour, we take a roundabout course from place to place, more commonly for pleasure, though sometimes on business. An excursion is usually a brief tour or trip for pleasure, health, etc. In a pilgrimage we travel to a place hallowed by our religions affections, or by some train of sacred or tender associations. A journey on important business; the tour of Europe; an excursion to the lakes; a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Journey, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Journeyed; p. pr. & vb. n. Journeying.]
To travel from place to place; to go from home to a distance. Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south. Gen. xii. 9.
Journey, v. t.
To traverse; to travel over or through. [R.] "I journeyed many a land." Sir W. Scott.
Shades of meaning
A journey (F. journee, from L. diurnus, daily) was primarily a day's work; hence, a movement from place to place within one day, which we now describe as "a day's journey;" in its extended modern use a journey is a direct going from a starting-point to a destination, ordinarily over a considerable distance; we speak of a day's journey, or the journey of life. Travel is a passing from place to place, not necessarily in a direct line or with fixed destination; a journey through Europe would be a passage to some destination beyond or at the farther boundary; travel in Europe may be in no direct course, but may include many journeys in different directions. A voyage, which was formerly a journey of any kind, is now a going to a considerable distance by water, especially by sea; as, a voyage to India. A trip is a short and direct journey. A tour is a journey that returns to the starting-point, generally over a considerable distance; as, a bridal tour, or business tour. An excursion is a brief tour or journey, taken for pleasure, often by many persons at once; as, an excursion to Chautauqua. Passage is a general word for a journey by any conveyance, especially by water; as, a rough passage across the Atlantic; transit, literally the act of passing over or through, is used specifically of the conveyance of passengers or merchandise; rapid transit is demanded for suburban residents or perishable goods. Pilgrimage, once always of a sacred character, retains in derived uses something of that sense; as, a pilgrimage to Stratford-on-Avon.
Prepositions
A journey from Naples to Rome; through Mexico; across the continent; over the sea; a journey into Asia; among savages; by land, by rail, for health, on foot, on the cars, etc.