Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

by dint of

/baɪ ˈdɪnt ʌv/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.73 in modern English

Syllables: by d-in-t of
IPA: /baɪ ˈdɪnt ʌv/

17

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

3

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

prep

By force of; by means of.

prep

Because of; by reason of.

Example Sentences

"He succeeded by dint of effort, not talent."
"[T]he Scythians perceiuyng they coulde not ouercome them by dint of ſwoorde and warre, changed their fight, & went againſt them with whippes and ſcourges, at the ſight whereof the ſeruant[s] remembring their olde condicion, were ſore abaſhed and ſubmitted them ſelues, takying worthy punyſhment for their offence."
"[H]is aunceſtours did deſire / By dint of blade, not bagges of droſſe, to honour to aſpire."
"Ethelred manfully entred the battaile, and ſo ſeconded his brother, & ouer-tyred Soldiers, that hee made way by dint of his ſword through the thickeſt of their almoſt-conquering enemies; […]"
"He [Tertullian] was naturally exceeding Hot and Impatient, […] to this natural Stock of Fire, and the joint Force of Letters, was added a ſurprizing Vivacity of Wit, edged with a Keeneſs peculiar to himſelf, ſo that he cou'd drive an Argument as far by dint of Reaſon, and clinch it as ſeverely by dint of Wit, as moſt Men living; […]"
"She stopt, felt herself getting into a puzzle, and could not be prevailed on to add another word, not by dint of several minutes of supplication and waiting."

Etymology

From by + dint (“force, power”) + of.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /baɪ ˈdɪnt ʌv/
British English: /baɪ ˈdɪnt ɒv/

Questions

How do you pronounce by dint of?: The recorded pronunciation is /baɪ ˈdɪnt ʌv/.
What does by dint of mean?: By force of; by means of.
Where does by dint of come from?: From by + dint (“force, power”) + of.

How to pronounce by dint of

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