gradual

Meanings

Adjective

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

Noun

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

Related

Similar words

• stepwise

Opposite words

• sudden
• abrupt

Origin

• From Medieval Latin graduālis, from Latin gradus ("step"), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰradʰ-, *gʰredʰ-. Cognate with Gothic 𐌲𐍂𐌹𐌸𐍃 ("step, grade"), Bavarian Gritt ("step, stride").