-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
    bitmǣlumbit by bit
    dropmǣlumdrop by drop
    flocmǣlumin flocks, in droves
    ġēarmǣlumyear by year
    hēapmǣlumin groups
    limmǣlumlimb from limb
    stæpmǣlumstep by step
    styċċemǣlumpiece by piece
    þūsendmǣlumby the thousands

Descendants

  • Middle English: -mele