Certainly, of course, or definitely; used to give emphatic permission or encouragement for someone to do something.
This phrase dates back to the 14th century, originally meaning 'by every possible method' or 'using all available resources.' Over time, it evolved into an emphatic way of granting permission or expressing strong agreement. The 'means' refers to methods or ways of achieving something.
The phrase has undergone a fascinating semantic shift from describing methodology to expressing permission - it went from 'use every method available' to 'absolutely, go ahead.' This transformation shows how language can preserve the intensity of meaning while completely changing its application, maintaining the emphatic force while switching contexts.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.