Definition of "method"

Though this be madneſſe, / Yet there is Method in 't: […]

c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act II, scene ii], page 261, column 2

He at once secured attention by his informal method, and when presently the coughing of Jarvis […] interrupted the sermon, he altogether captivated his audience with a remark about cough lozenges being cheap and easily procurable.

1918, W. B. Maxwell, chapter 3, in The Mirror and the Lamp‎

Many insects probably use this strategy, which is a close analogy to crypsis in the visible world—camouflage and other methods for blending into one’s visual background.

2013 May-June, William E. Conner, “An Acoustic Arms Race”, in American Scientist‎, volume 101, number 3, archived from the original on 17 July 2013, pages 206–7

In this case, the application of the famous method was a little shaky. To be fair, the director was dealing with a pretty stroppy cast.

1989, Kenneth Branagh, Beginning, London: Chatto & Windus, page 64

When you call the method, you provide values corresponding to these variables in your method call.

2006, David A. Black, David Heinemeier Hansson, Ruby for Rails: Ruby Techniques for Rails Developers, Manning, page 101

"Says he, there is above ten thousand brisk boys are ready to follow me, whenever I hold up my finger : — Says I, how have you methoded this, that they shall not be crushed, for there will be a great force to oppose you?"

1809, Rachel Russell (baroness.), Letters. To which is prefixed, an intr. vindicating the character of lord ...