This is the 3035th most frequent French word.
menant
"Leading" or "bringing."
Here, 'menant' is a present participle, derived from the verb 'mener', used to indicate the action of leading in parallel to the main verb 'marchait'.
Il marchait dans la rue, menant son chien en laisse.
He was walking down the street, leading his dog on a leash.
In this instance, 'menant' describes the state or action associated with the subject, aligning with the subject 'elle' to provide additional information.
Menant une vie tranquille, elle semblait toujours heureuse.
Leading a peaceful life, she always seemed happy.
Here, 'menant' functions as a present participle, giving a descriptive quality to 'le chemin', showing its role or state.