gradual
See also: graduál and graduał
English
Alternative forms
- graduall (obsolete)
Etymology
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”).
Pronunciation
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˈɡɹæd͡ʒuəl/, /ˈɡɹæd͡ʒwəl/, /ˈɡɹæd͡ʒəl/
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈɡɹadʒuəl/, /ˈɡɹadjuəl/, /ˈɡɹadʒəl/
- (New Zealand) IPA(key): /ˈɡɹɛdʒʉɘl/, /ˈɡɹɛdʒɘl/
Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: (General American) -ædʒəl
- Hyphenation: grad‧u‧al, grad‧ual, gradu‧al
Adjective
gradual (comparative more gradual, superlative most gradual)
- Proceeding or advancing by small, slow, regular steps or degrees
- a gradual increase of knowledge; a gradual decline
- 1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], […], OCLC 228722708; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, OCLC 230729554:
- Creatures animate with gradual life / Of growth, sense, reason, all summed up in man.
Synonyms
- stepwise
Antonyms
- sudden
- abrupt
Derived terms
- gradually
Translations
proceeding by steps or small degrees
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See also
- insidious
Noun
gradual (plural graduals)
- (Christianity) An antiphon or responsory after the epistle, in the Mass, which was sung on the steps, or while the deacon ascended the steps.
- (Christianity) A service book containing the musical portions of the Mass.
Translations
antiphone or responsory
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service book
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Catalan
Etymology
From Medieval Latin graduālis.
Pronunciation
- (Balearic, Central) IPA(key): /ɡɾə.duˈal/
- (Valencian) IPA(key): /ɡɾa.duˈal/
- Rhymes: -al
Adjective
gradual (masculine and feminine plural graduals)
- gradual
Derived terms
- gradualment
Related terms
- grau
Further reading
- “gradual” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
- “gradual”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2023
- “gradual” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
- “gradual” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.
Galician
Etymology
From Medieval Latin graduālis.
Adjective
gradual m or f (plural graduais)
- gradual
Derived terms
- gradualmente
Related terms
- grao
Further reading
- “gradual” in Dicionario da Real Academia Galega, Royal Galician Academy.
Portuguese
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Medieval Latin graduālis.
Pronunciation
- (Brazil) IPA(key): /ɡɾa.duˈaw/ [ɡɾa.dʊˈaʊ̯], (faster pronunciation) /ɡɾaˈdwaw/ [ɡɾaˈdwaʊ̯]
- (Portugal) IPA(key): /ɡɾɐˈdwal/ [ɡɾɐˈðwaɫ]
- Rhymes: (Portugal) -al, (Brazil) -aw
- Hyphenation: gra‧du‧al
Adjective
gradual m or f (plural graduais, comparable, comparative maisgradual, superlative o maisgradual or gradualíssimo)
- gradual
Derived terms
- gradualmente
Further reading
- “gradual” in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa.
Spanish
Etymology
From Medieval Latin graduālis.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ɡɾaˈdwal/ [ɡɾaˈð̞wal]
- Rhymes: -al
- Syllabification: gra‧dual
Adjective
gradual (plural graduales)
- gradual
Derived terms
- gradualmente
Related terms
- graduar
- grado
Noun
gradual m (plural graduales)
- (Roman Catholicism) gradual
Further reading
- “gradual”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014