part and parcel
Preserved but no longer current.
An essential part, portion, or element. "Well, Mr. Squeers," he said, welcoming that worthy with his accustomed smile, of which a sharp look and a thoughtful frown were part and parcel, "how do you do?" — DICKENS: Nicholas Nickleby.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “part and parcel” mean?
An essential part, portion, or element. "Well, Mr. Squeers," he said, welcoming that worthy with his accustomed smile, of which a sharp look and a thoughtful frown were part and parcel, "how do you do?" — DICKENS: Nicholas Nickleby.
Is “part and parcel” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.