dint
UK[dɪnt]US[dɪnt]
n
A mark or dent in a surface made by pressure or a blow.
n
(archaic) Force or power, especially in the phrase "by dint of".
Etymology
The word 'dint' originates from the Old English 'dynt', meaning a blow or the mark left by one, which is of Germanic origin. It is related to Old Norse 'dyntr' and Old High German 'tuns', all sharing a common Proto-Germanic root conveying the sense of a strike or impact. The modern meaning evolved from the physical result of a blow (a dent) to a metaphorical extension of force or effort, as seen in the enduring phrase "by dint of", meaning through the force or power of something. This semantic shift illustrates how a concrete term for physical impact came to represent abstract force or means.
Analysis
This is a simplex word of Old English origin. It functions as a single, unanalyzable morpheme in modern English.
Examples
The old shield bore the dints of many battles.
She succeeded by dint of hard work and perseverance.
A large dint was visible on the car's door where it had been hit.