By all means

By all means
Mean Mean, n. 1. That which is mean, or intermediate, between two extremes of place, time, or number; the middle point or place; middle rate or degree; mediocrity; medium; absence of extremes or excess; moderation; measure. [1913 Webster]

But to speak in a mean, the virtue of prosperity is temperance; the virtue of adversity is fortitude. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

There is a mean in all things. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

The extremes we have mentioned, between which the wellinstracted Christian holds the mean, are correlatives. --I. Taylor. [1913 Webster]

2. (Math.) A quantity having an intermediate value between several others, from which it is derived, and of which it expresses the resultant value; usually, unless otherwise specified, it is the simple average, formed by adding the quantities together and dividing by their number, which is called an {arithmetical mean}. A {geometrical mean} is the nth root of the product of the n quantities being averaged. [1913 Webster]

3. That through which, or by the help of which, an end is attained; something tending to an object desired; intermediate agency or measure; necessary condition or coagent; instrument. [1913 Webster]

Their virtuous conversation was a mean to work the conversion of the heathen to Christ. --Hooker. [1913 Webster]

You may be able, by this mean, to review your own scientific acquirements. --Coleridge. [1913 Webster]

Philosophical doubt is not an end, but a mean. --Sir W. Hamilton. [1913 Webster]

Note: In this sense the word is usually employed in the plural form means, and often with a singular attribute or predicate, as if a singular noun. [1913 Webster]

By this means he had them more at vantage. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

What other means is left unto us. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

4. pl. Hence: Resources; property, revenue, or the like, considered as the condition of easy livelihood, or an instrumentality at command for effecting any purpose; disposable force or substance. [1913 Webster]

Your means are very slender, and your waste is great. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

5. (Mus.) A part, whether alto or tenor, intermediate between the soprano and base; a middle part. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

The mean is drowned with your unruly base. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

6. Meantime; meanwhile. [Obs.] --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

7. A mediator; a go-between. [Obs.] --Piers Plowman. [1913 Webster]

He wooeth her by means and by brokage. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

{By all means}, certainly; without fail; as, go, by all means.

{By any means}, in any way; possibly; at all. [1913 Webster]

If by any means I might attain to the resurrection of the dead. --Phil. iii. ll. [1913 Webster]

{By no means}, or {By no manner of means}, not at all; certainly not; not in any degree. [1913 Webster]

The wine on this side of the lake is by no means so good as that on the other. --Addison. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • by all means — adverb definitely or certainly (Freq. 1) Visit us by all means • Ant: ↑by no means • Usage Domain: ↑colloquialism * * * OF COURSE, certainly, definitely, surely, absolutely, with pleasure; N. Amer …   Useful english dictionary

  • by all means — also[by all manner of means] {adv. phr.} Certainly, without fail. * /He felt that he should by all means warn Jones./ Contrast: BY NO MEANS …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • by all means — also[by all manner of means] {adv. phr.} Certainly, without fail. * /He felt that he should by all means warn Jones./ Contrast: BY NO MEANS …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • By all means — By By (b[imac]), prep. [OE. bi, AS. b[=i], big, near to, by, of, from, after, according to; akin to OS. & OFries. bi, be, D. bij, OHG. b[=i], G. bei, Goth. bi, and perh. Gr. amfi . E. prefix be is orig. the same word. [root]203. See pref. {Be }.] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • by\ all\ means — • by all means • by all manner of means adv. phr. Certainly, without fail. He felt that he should by all means warn Jones. Contrast: by no means …   Словарь американских идиом

  • by all means — ► by all means of course. Main Entry: ↑means …   English terms dictionary

  • by all means — yes, please do it    By all means, come to the Learning Skills Centre …   English idioms

  • by all means — certainly. If you can find a use for this old computer, by all means keep it …   New idioms dictionary

  • by all means — you must have dinner with us Syn: of course, certainly, definitely, surely, absolutely, with pleasure; informal sure thing …   Thesaurus of popular words

  • by all means — spoken used for politely agreeing with someone, giving permission, or saying yes Do you mind if I invite a few friends? By all means …   English dictionary

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