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Added 10 October 2026

piecemeal

/ˈpiːs.miːl/ adjective

In Latin: carptim, intercīsē Wiktionary

adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about piecemeal at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

One thing at a time.

adverb

A little bit at a time.
the research structure has developed piecemeal

Origin

From Middle English pecemele, from pece (“piece”) + mele (from Old English mǣlum (“at a time”), dative plural form of mǣl (“time, measure”), taking the place of Old English styċċemǣlum (“in pieces, bit by bit, piecemeal; to pieces, to bits; here and there, in different places; little by little, by degrees, gradually”); equivalent to piece + -meal.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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