Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
adverb
- piece by piece; one piece at a time; gradually: to work piecemeal.
- into pieces or fragments: to tear a letter piecemeal.
adjective
- done piecemeal.
adverb
- by degrees; bit by bit; gradually
- in or into pieces or piece from pieceto tear something piecemeal
adjective
- fragmentary or unsystematica piecemeal approach
adv.c.1300 (originally two words), from piece (n.) + Old English mælum “at a time,” dative plural of mæl “appointed time, food served” (see meal (n.1)). The second element once was more commonly used, e.g. Old English styccemælum “bit by bit,” gearmælum “year by year.” One-word form from 15c.