one-by-one

The phrase "one-by-one" is a modern English compound that builds upon fundamental Old English vocabulary. Its core logic is transparently literal, deriving from the numeral "one" and the preposition "by" used in its sequential sense. The construction follows a common pattern in English for creating adverbial phrases that describe manner (e.g., "step-by-step," "day-by-day"). It evolved naturally to describe a process where individual units are considered or handled sequentially, with each unit being the singular focus "by" or "next to" the moment of attention before proceeding to the next. This phrase elegantly encapsulates the concept of serial singularity without requiring complex Latinate or Greek roots.

This is a hyphenated compound phrase formed from the numeral "one" (from Old English ān, meaning "one, a single") and the preposition "by" (from Old English bī, meaning "near, at, during"). It functions as a fixed adjectival or adverbial phrase in English.