by way of
English
Alternative forms
- by the way of
Phrase
by way of
- By the route of.
- Synonyms: through, via
- 1878, Thomas Hardy, chapter 1, in The Return of the Native:
- Intensity was more usually reached by way of the solemn than by way of the brilliant.
- 1914, Saki (pseudonym; H. H. Munro), “The Boar-Pig”, in Beasts and Super-Beasts:
- “I always go over the wall, by way of the plum tree,” said Matilda.
- 2003, Kate Kondell (screenplay), Legally Blonde 2, spoken by Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon):
- My name is Elle Woods, Boston by way of Bel Air.
- From Shakespeare to Milton by way of the English Bible, our language has been shaped by humanist ideas.
- For the purpose of; as a means of; as an instance of; as a type or form of.
- By way of apology, he tried to be gallant.
- By way of qualification, I should point out that…
- 1731, Jonathan Swift, On the Death of Dr. Swift:
- Thus much may serve by way of proem: / Proceed we therefore to our poem.
- 1849, Edgar Allan Poe, Hop-Frog:
- Why they hesitated I never could tell, unless they did it by way of a joke.
- 1968, Joan Didion, “On Keeping a Notebook”, in Slouching Towards Bethlehem:
- “So what's new in the whiskey business?” one of the fat men finally says by way of welcome, […]
- (UK, often followed by being) Possessing the characteristics, nature, or standing of; in the state or condition of.
- 1898, H. G. Wells, “The Trouble of Life”, in Certain Personal Matters, pages 16–17:
- Thoreau, too, come to think of it, was, by way of being a prophet, a pioneer in this Emancipation of Man from Bothery.
- 1921, P. G. Wodehouse, Jeeves in the Springtime:
- "From what you tell me, he's by way of being the brains of the family."
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Derived terms
- by way of example
Translations
by the route of, through, via
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for the purpose of, as a means or instance of
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possessing the characteristics, nature, or standing of
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See also
- by dint of
- by means of
- in the way of
- beway
Further reading
- by way of at OneLook Dictionary Search