Dropwise

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. Occurring or falling in individual drops rather than as a continuous stream or flow
2. Dispensing or appearing in discrete droplets instead of a steady or uninterrupted flow
3. Manifesting or being released in distinct small drops rather than in a continuous stream or liquid flow

Etymology: "Dropwise" is a plain compound: "drop" joined to the suffix "-wise", which in Old English "wīs" meant "manner" or "way," as in "likewise" or "clockwise." The suffix comes from the same Germanic root as the verb "wise," meaning to know, which in its older sense was closer to "way of knowing" or "manner." Attaching it to a noun produces an adverb describing the manner of something happening. Here, "drop" is the familiar word for a small, rounded bead of liquid, so "dropwise" describes liquid falling or being added in separate beads rather than running as a steady stream. Chemists and cooks use it most often, as in adding a reagent "dropwise" to a flask so each addition can react before the next. The word is built entirely from English parts, so the story lies in the suffix rather than in any borrowed material.

Synonyms: drip by drip, in drops, gradually, slowly, piecemeal