means to an end

English

Etymology

(Thisetymologyis missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at theEtymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key):/miːnz tuː ən ɛnd/

Noun

meanstoanend(pluralmeans to an endormeans to ends)

1. Amethodby which agoalisachieved.
   • 2019May 5, Danette Chavez, “Campaigns are Waged On and Off theGame Of ThronesBattlefield (Newbies)”, inThe A.V. Club‎^[1],archived fromthe originalon28 January 2021:

     Daenerys has seen herself as avenging the wrongs done to her from the first season; she didn’t really need another to add to her list. The way they’re handled, Missandei’s death, as well as Rhaegal’s, amount to chess pieces being removed from the board. They deserve better than being ameans to an end,even on a show that’s often treated death (and life) as a game to be beaten.

Antonyms

• end in itself

Related terms

• the end justifies the means,the ends justify the means
• ways and means

Translations

method by which a goal is achieved

• Chinese:

  Mandarin:please add this translation if you can

• Finnish:keino(fi)
• French:please add this translation if you can
• German:Mittel zum Zweckn
• Polish:środekdocelum
• Spanish:medio para un finm