Proceeding in distinct stages or steps, one after another in a systematic sequence. It implies a methodical approach where each stage must be completed before moving to the next.
A compound of 'step' (from Old English 'stæpe') and 'wise' (meaning 'manner' from Old English 'wise'). This formation pattern creates adverbs describing the manner of progression, similar to 'likewise' or 'otherwise.'
Stepwise is like climbing a ladder—you can't skip rungs safely! It's the opposite of intuitive leaps, which is why it's so important in scientific methods and computer algorithms where each step must logically follow the previous one.
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