方式(法)，手段(method(to get a result)) [接sing/pl 动词]： the fastest(quickest)～of travel最快的交通工具;use any/every/all/unfair/illegal～使用任何/每一种/一切/不正当的/不合法的手段;Television is a popular～of advertising.电视是一种很流行的广告媒介。There seems to be no～of getting there.似乎无法到达那里。He hoped to settle the issue by peaceful～.他希望用和平的方式解决问题。〖同〗way，resort;

by all means 当然可以，没问题(fml)：“May I take this chair?”“Yes. By all～!”“我可以拿这把椅子吗?”“可以，没问题!”

by means of 用，依靠(fml)：They succeeded by～of patience and sacrifice.他们以耐心和不怕牺牲的精神取胜。

by no means(not by any(manner of) means)绝不，一点也不：You haven't finish the work by any～.你根本没完成工作。It's by no～a certainty that you'll win the prize.你绝没有十分把握获奖.

【用法】means¹ 谓语动词单复数均可，一般来说，其修饰语如“any，all”等词决定动词的数，如：Every～was tried.(各种方法都试过了。)There are several～at our disposal.(有几种方法可供我们选用。)