gradual
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1grad·u·al
noun, often capitalized \ˈgra-jə-wəl, -jəl, ˈgraj-wəl\Definition of GRADUAL
1
: a book containing the choral parts of the Mass
2
: a pair of verses (as from the Psalms) proper after the Epistle in the Mass
Origin of GRADUAL
Middle English, from Medieval Latin graduale, from Latin gradus step; from its being sung on the steps of the altar
First Known Use: 15th century
2gradual
adjectiveDefinition of GRADUAL
1
: proceeding by steps or degrees
2
: moving, changing, or developing by fine or often imperceptible degrees
— grad·u·al·ly adverb
— grad·u·al·ness noun
See Examples of GRADUAL
- We noticed a gradual change in temperature.
- The hospital has made gradual improvements in health care.
Origin of GRADUAL
Medieval Latin gradualis, from Latin gradus
First Known Use: 1658
Related to GRADUAL
- Synonyms
- gradational, incremental, phased, piecemeal, step-by-step
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