The word "mean" has brought difficulties to me again. ))
There is a sentence:
The ability to change forces gives us a means of controlling and maneuvering the airplane.
As I understand the "means" has a meaning of facility here.
Also as I understand the word "means" is a plural noun here. But why does it have article "a" then?
If somebody gave me the answer I would be very glad. )
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Answers · 6
3
In this context, "means" is the same as "way":
The ability to change forces gives us a way of controlling and maneuvering the airplane.
Note: If I wanted to add to the confusion, I could have said "In this context, "means" means the same as "way". :-)
1
Hello Evgenil:
You can think of MEANS as facility, and also as method, way, device; but if you think of it as METHOD, it will focus your understanding. WAY, in this context, can be see as synonymous with MEANS, METHOD, etc.
The use of words, are only a MEANS to an end.
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"In philosophy, the term means to an end refers to any action (the means) carried out for the sole purpose of achieving something else (an end). It can be thought of as a metaphysical distinction, as no empirical information differentiates actions that are means to ends from those that are not—that are "ends in themselves." It has been incurred that all actions are means to other ends; this is relevant when considering the meaning of life."---Wikipedia
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