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Taka Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

by

by• preposition

1 through the agency or means of. 2 indicating a quantity or amount, or the size of a margin. 3 expressing multiplication, especially in dimensions. 4 indicating the end of a time period. 5 near to; beside. 6 past and beyond. 7 during. 8 according to. (Compact Oxford English Dictionary)

Now, which 'by' do you think the 'by' of 'by the root(s)' is?
  

Top answer

dict=CALD&key=10615&ph=on preposition used to show how something is done: They travelled across Europe by train/car. She did the decorating (all) by herself (= alone, without help from anyone). We went in by (= through) the front door.

— Optimus

  • dict=CALD&key=10615&ph=on preposition used to show how something is done: They travelled across Europe by train/car.
  • She did the decorating (all) by herself (= alone, without help from anyone).
  • We went in by (= through) the front door.
  • Do you wish to be paid in cash or by cheque?
  • He learned English by listen ing to the radio.
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9 Answers
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by (METHOD) http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?dict=CALD&key=10615&ph=on
preposition
used to show how something is done:
They travelled across Europe by train/car.
She did the decorating (all) by herself (= alone, without help from anyone).
We went i
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I would take it as an instrumental "by" (i.e. #1).

MrP
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MrPedanticI would take it as an instrumental "by" (i.e. #1).

MrP
Instrumental!?
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Yes, I think so; you grasp the plants as far beneath the surface of the soil as you can, i.e. by the roots, and then pull. So you're pulling the roots to uproot the plant.

My dictionary gives this sense as "indicating the medium, means, instrumentality, or agency", and exemplifies it with this sentence from Pepys: "I did give her a pull by the nose".

(But maybe "means" would ser
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Why am I thinking root canal?
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DavkettWhy am I thinking root canal?

Because you have masochistic tendencies?

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MrPedanticYes, I think so; you grasp the plants as far beneath the surface of the soil as you can, i.e. by the roots, and then pull. So you're pulling the roots to uproot the plant.
Hmm...I didn't think we could grasp the root-we could grasp the neck of the root, though- simply because it was beneath the surface...
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Taka
MrPedanticYes, I think so; you grasp the plants as far beneath the surface of the soil as you can, i.e. by the roots, and then pull. So you're pulling the roots to uproot the plant.

Hmm...I didn't think we could grasp the root-we could grasp the neck of the root, though- simply because it was beneath the surfa
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I see. Thank you, MrP!
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