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by way of, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
by way of in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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English
Phrase
by way of
- By the route of.
- Synonyms: through, via
From Shakespeare to Milton by way of the English Bible, our language has been shaped by humanist ideas.
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.
1950 April, R. A. H. Weight, “They Passed by My Window”, in Railway Magazine, pages 258-259:In 1919, demobilisation specials from Purfleet, Essex, to the North, usually made up of nondescript, almost paintless or grey stock which had seen long wartime service, chalked with slogans, were worked through by way of Bromley and the North London line […] .
2003, Kate Kondell (screenplay), Legally Blonde 2 (motion picture), spoken by Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon):My name is Elle Woods, Boston by way of Bel Air.
- 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…
1949 November and December, “Notes and News: Festiniog and Welsh Highland Railways”, in Railway Magazine, page 409:By way of contrast there is an air of finality about the closure of the Welsh Highland Railway.
2023 December 13, Robin Leleux, “Restored... and a richly deserved award: Cullybackey”, in RAIL, number 998, page 39:Considerable work had to be done by way of repairs and replacement of bricks and woodwork (doors, floors, skirtings and panelling) where these were too far gone to be salvageable, including reprofiling to match originals.
- (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.
Derived terms
Translations
by the route of, through, via
for the purpose of, as a means or instance of
possessing the characteristics, nature, or standing of
See also
Further reading