Recently I came across 铺就, today I have 造就。I tend to think of 就 as 'then'. Maybe that is wrong.
What did 就 originally mean? It seems to show a building and an injured hand??
There are other words with *就。
成就，将就，迁就，牵就 even 可就
How should I understand 就 in these combinations? What is its role?
就 has the meaning of 完成;成功 (accomplish) in 造就 (bring up / achievements) and 成就 (achieve;accomplish).
(9) 完成;成功 [accomplish]
(10) 又如:就亲(成就婚事,成亲);就名(成就功名)
When in 将就, 迁就 it means accommodate.
(12) 迁就;将就 [accommodate oneself to; suit; fit; yield]
(13) 又如:半推半就;牵就;就着(就便;顺便);就滑(随便;方便)
The original meaning of 就 is
就，高也。从京从尤。尤，異於凡也。，籒文就。疾僦切 文二 重一
The left part 京 means high; tall, the right part 尤 means special; out of the common.
There is an extended discussion about 就 here http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/phorum/read.php?7,138618,page=1
My thinking is. 就 mainly means " then; just; only; near; close to
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The original meaning of 就
http://www.shuowen.org/view/3315
'就，高也。从京从尤。尤，異於凡也
京 = high
尤 = extraordinary
就 = high
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廣韵曰。就、成也。迎也。卽也。皆其引伸之義也
The core meaning of 就 is 'success; complete'; other means like 'get near' or 'then' are all extended from the original meaning
'就' in '铺就' and '造就' are adverb for 'completed' because '铺' and '造' are verb.
铺 = to pave
铺就 = finish paving
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造 = make
造就 = completed making = create
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成就 (achievement) is a compound word
成= completed
就 = height;
成就 = achievement
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将就，迁就 are also compound words
'就' in '将就'(put up with) and 迁就 (accommodate) is a verb for 'approach' (you make accommodation to approach someone else's need or demand)
there is a disscussion about it, here A unified theory of 就 meaning
