piece
Meaning
A separate part or section of something larger.
A single item of a particular type, especially one that forms part of a set.
An artistic or literary work.
A coin of specified value.
To put parts together to form a whole.
Usage
She cut the cake into eight equal pieces.
He played a beautiful piece by Chopin on the piano.
The detective worked tirelessly to piece together the clues from the crime scene.
Etymology
The word 'piece' entered English in the late 13th century from Anglo-Norman French 'pece' or 'piece', meaning a portion or fragment. This Old French term is believed to derive from a late Latin word 'pettia', possibly of Gaulish origin, which also conveyed the sense of a part or a bit. The core concept of a separate portion has remained remarkably stable throughout its journey into English. Over time, its application broadened metaphorically to include a single item (a piece of fruit), a work of art (a musical piece), and even a coin, while retaining its fundamental meaning of a constituent part of a larger whole.
Analysis
The word 'piece' is a simplex word of Anglo-Norman origin. It does not contain separable, productive morphemes in modern English.