-wise, -ways, "A Ways Off"

Obama: Full Recovery "A Ways Off" - CBS News

10 Jul 2009 ... At End of G8 Summit, President Says Leaders Made Significant Steps to Address Economy, Environment and Security.

Definition of -wise

suffix

• forming adjectives and adverbs of manner or respect such as clockwise, otherwise. Compare with -ways.
• informal with respect to; concerning:security-wise, there are few problems

-ways

Syllabification: (-ways)

Definition of -ways

suffix

forming adjectives and adverbs of direction or manner:edgeways lengthwaysCompare with -wise.

ways
The noun has 2 meanings:
Meaning #1: the property of distance in general; (colloquial) "he went a long ways"
Synonym: way
Meaning #2: structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired
Synonyms: shipway, slipway

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The adverb ways has one meaning:
Meaning #1: n is between 2 and infinity
Synonym: n-ways