Dint, an old noun meaning force, is preserved mainly in the idiom by dint of, which functions adverbially to mean (1) because of, or (2) due to the efforts of. Dint comes from Old English, where it meant a blow dealt in fighting. From this it developed the sense force, which led to its use in the phrase by dint of, which is traditionally defined as by force of, though the force-related connotations have faded away in modern use.Â
Examples
Speaking before Ferguson was his good friend Nick Minchin who, by dint of who he is, was always going to prove newsworthy. [Sydney Morning Herald]
Established fiat currencies—ones where bills and coins, or their digital versions, get their value by dint of regulation or law—are underwritten by the state. [The Economist]
Cambridge, which sits just across the river, is by dint of its size not as dynamic in some ways. [Financial Times]