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Added 9 October 2026

gradual

/ˈɡɹadʒuəl/ noun

In Latin: graduāle Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about gradual at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

(Roman Catholic Church) an antiphon (usually from the Book of Psalms) immediately after the epistle at Mass.

adjective

Proceeding in small stages.
a gradual increase in prices
(of a topographical gradient) not steep or abrupt.
a gradual slope

Origin

From Medieval Latin graduālis, from Latin gradus (“step”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰradʰ-, *gʰredʰ- (“to walk, go”). Cognate with Gothic 𐌲𐍂𐌹𐌸𐍃 (griþs, “step, grade”), Bavarian Gritt (“step, stride”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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