Piecemeal Definition

pēsmēl
adverb
Piece by piece; in small amounts or degrees.
Webster's New World
In pieces; apart.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
adjective
Accomplished or made in stages.
American Heritage
Made or done in pieces or one piece at a time.
Webster's New World
Antonyms:
verb

To divide or distribute piecemeal; dismember.

Wiktionary
noun
Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Piecemeal

Noun

Singular:
piecemeal
Plural:
piecemeals

Origin of Piecemeal

  • From Middle English pecemele, from pece (“piece") + mele (from Old English mÇ£lum (“at a time"), dative plural form of mÇ£l (“time, measure")), taking the place of Old English styÄ‹Ä‹emÇ£lum (“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 +"Ž -meal.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English pecemeale pece piece piece -mele by a fixed measure (from Old English -mǣlum at a time) (from dative pl. of mǣl appointed time mē-2 in Indo-European roots)

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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