multi-step
Meaning
Involving or consisting of more than one distinct stage or process.
Structure
Usage
Solving this equation requires a multi-step approach.
The company outlined a multi-step plan for its expansion into new markets.
This is a multi-step verification process to ensure account security.
Etymology
The adjective "multi-step" is a modern English compound formed by combining the Latin-derived prefix "multi-" with the native English noun "step." The prefix "multi-," originating from the Latin adjective multus meaning "much" or "many," entered English via French and has been productively used to form terms indicating multiplicity. The word "step" has Germanic origins, tracing back to Old English and related to the act of moving the foot. In this compound, "step" metaphorically extends from a physical movement to a discrete stage in a sequence. Thus, the literal construction "many stages" logically yields the modern abstract meaning describing any procedure requiring several distinct phases to complete.
Analysis
- multi: From Latin multus (much, many). A combining form used as a prefix meaning "many" or "multiple." - step: From Old English stæpe, stepe (a step, pace, act of stepping). A noun used in a compound to denote a stage or phase in a process.