-mælum

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *-mālum. Identical to the dative/instrumental plural of mǣl (“time, occasion”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmæː.lum/

Suffix

-mǣlum

1. used to denote a fixed amount of something at a time

   bitmǣlum ― bit by bit

   dropmǣlum ― drop by drop

   flocmǣlum ― in flocks, in droves

   ġēarmǣlum ― year by year

   hēapmǣlum ― in groups

   limmǣlum ― limb from limb

   stæpmǣlum ― step by step

   styċċemǣlum ― piece by piece

   þūsendmǣlum ― by the thousands

Descendants

• Middle English: -mele
  • English: -meal