by dint of

by dint of

1. Because of.

   The North Caucasus are part of Russia by dint of history.

2. By means of.

   He succeeded by dint of effort, not talent.

   • 1871, John Stuart Mill, Principles of Political Economy (vol. 2), Book III, Chapter XII, p. 66:

     Other instances might be cited of parties without any capital at all, who, by dint of mere credit, were enabled, while the aspect of the market favoured their views, to make purchases to a very great extent.

   • 1918, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Land That Time Forgot Chapter VIII

     Nobs, by dint of much scrambling and one or two narrow escapes from death, had managed to follow us up the cliff and was now curled between me and the doorway, having devoured a piece of the dried meat, which he seemed to relish immensely.