piecemeal
To divide or distribute piecemealTo divide or distribute piecemeal; dismember.
» The regulation is piecemeal and unfocused.
Meaning
1 sensesTo divide or distribute piecemeal; dismember.
Examples
5 sentencesThe regulation is piecemeal and unfocused.
The information is leaking piecemeal to the press.
I won't be swayed by your piecemeal offerings.
He said that the piecemeal solution of the government will not work.
Piecemeal approaches are doomed to fail.
Origin
From Middle English pecemele, from pece (“piece”) + mele (from Old English mǣlum (“at a tiFrom 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.
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Forms
piecemeals, piecemealing, piecemealed, piecemealed| Base form | piecemeal · to piecemeal |
|---|---|
| 3rd person singular | piecemeals |
| Present participle | piecemealing |
| Past simple | piecemealed |
| Past participle | piecemealed |
regular · Lesson
Synonyms
4 synonymsWord family
1 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle