gradual

Meaning

Adj

Proceeding or advancing by small, slow, regular steps or degrees

Noun

1. An antiphon or responsory after the epistle, in the Mass, which was sung on the steps, or while the deacon ascended the steps.
2. A service book containing the musical portions of the Mass.

Synonyms

slow

progressive

stepwise

step-by-step

successive

serial

bit-by-bit

piecemeal

gradually

soft

graduated

🎓

gentle

low-pitched

mild

percolate

progressively

prolonged

slight

smooth

soak

staged

step by step

subtle

successively

gradatory

in small stages

a little bit

in phases

by degrees

calm

consecutive

continuous

creeping

easy

gradational

imperceptible

incremental

incrementally

insensible

Translations

graduale

graduel

gradual

geleidelijk

progressif

stufenweise

allmählich

βαθμιαίος

graduell

gradual

gradual

gradueel

paulatino

langzamerhand

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɡɹadʒuəl/

Etymology

Cognate with Gothic: 𐌲𐍂𐌹𐌸𐍃

Cognate with Bavarian: Gritt

In summary

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”).