■ plural noun
1》 [treated as sing. or plural ] an action or system by which a result is achieved.
2》 financial resources; income.
↘substantial resources; wealth.
Phrases
by all ~ of course.
by any ~ [with negative ] at all.
by ~ of by using.
by no ~ (or by no manner of ~ ) certainly not.
a ~ to an end a thing that is not valued in itself but is useful in achieving an aim.
Origin
ME: plural of mean 3 , the early sense being 'intermediary'.