entry
means
/miːnz/Resources or methods used to achieve something
From Proto-West Germanic, ultimately Proto-Indo-European mean (Intent).
Word Ancestry
A “means” began as something much more mental than financial: an intention, an idea, or what a person had in mind. The trail leads through Old English mǣnan, “to intend” or “to indicate,” before English mean acquired the noun sense of a method—a route toward an objective. By about 1600, that route could be money, property, or any resource under someone’s control, which is why a “person of means” is wealthy rather than merely decisive. The same ancient family includes German meinen, “to think,” and Old Irish mian, “wish” or “desire”: a means is, in effect, the practical machinery built to carry a thought or desire into the world.
The Story
A “means” began as something much more mental than financial: an intention, an idea, or what a person had in mind. The trail leads through Old English mǣnan, “to intend” or “to indicate,” before English mean acquired the noun sense of a method—a route toward an objective. By about 1600, that route could be money, property, or any resource under someone’s control, which is why a “person of means” is wealthy rather than merely decisive. The same ancient family includes German meinen, “to think,” and Old Irish mian, “wish” or “desire”: a means is, in effect, the practical machinery built to carry a thought or desire into the world.
Modern Usage
A stereotypically attractive, enthusiastic cheerleader-like girl, according to a user-generated entry.
Kin & Kindred
From 'mean'·Intent, opinion; later a method or resource for achieving an end
Derived Terms
English words from this root