Gradual Definition

grăjo͝o-əl

adjective

Occurring or developing slowly or by small increments.

Gradual erosion; a gradual slope.

American Heritage

Taking place by almost imperceptible steps or degrees; developing little by little, not sharply or suddenly.

Webster's New World

Proceeding by steps or small degrees; advancing step by step, as in ascent or descent or from one state to another; regularly progressive; slow.

A gradual increase of knowledge; a gradual decline.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

noun

A set of usually Scriptural verses following the Epistle at Mass.

Webster's New World

An official book containing the words and musical notation for the parts of the Mass sung by participants other than the celebrant.

Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Gradual

Singular:

gradual

Plural:

graduals

Middle English having steps from Medieval Latin graduālis from Latin gradus step grade N., Middle English from Medieval Latin graduāle the part of the service sung by the choir from the altar steps, gradual from neuter sing. of graduālis

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Medieval Latin gradualis, from Latin gradus (“step”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰradʰ-, *gʰredʰ- (“to walk, go”). Cognate with Gothic (griþs, “step, grade”), Bavarian Gritt (“step, stride”).

From Wiktionary