adv. 1. By a small amount at a time; in stages: articles acquired piecemeal. 2. In pieces; apart. adj. Accomplished or made in stages. [Middle English pecemeale : pece, piece; see PIECE + -mele, by a fixed measure (from Old English -mǣlum, at a time, from dative pl. of mǣl, appointed time; see mē-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots).] |
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