proper method; way to do something; means
Used almost exclusively in negative or desperate contexts, such as せんすべがない or せんすべなく, meaning 'there is no way to deal with it' or 'at a loss for what to do'. The word is somewhat literary and old-fashioned.
Faced with the sudden accident, I stood there helplessly with no means to act.
He had no recourse and just looked up at the sky.
Rare kanji spelling; the word is almost always written in kana.
Ateji spelling; not in common use.
The derivation is uncertain. The kanji 為ん is a rare ateji for せん, and 術 means 'method'. The word likely originated as a set phrase meaning 'the way to do it'.