gradual

== 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 === (Received Pronunciation) (yod-coalescence) IPA(key): /ˈɡɹadʒuəl/, /ˈɡɹadʒəl/ (non-yod-coalescence) IPA(key): /ˈɡɹadjuəl/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈɡɹæd͡ʒuəl/, /ˈɡɹæd͡ʒəl/ (New Zealand) IPA(key): /ˈɡɹɛdʒʉɘl/, /ˈɡɹɛdʒɘl/ Hyphenation: grad‧u‧al, grad‧ual, gradu‧al Rhymes: (General American) -ædʒəl === Adjective === gradual (comparative more gradual, superlative most gradual) Proceeding or advancing by small, slow, regular steps or degrees ==== Synonyms ==== stepwise ==== Antonyms ==== sudden abrupt ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== ==== 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 ==== == Catalan == === Etymology === Borrowed from Medieval Latin graduālis. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): (Central, Balearic) [ɡɾə.ðuˈal] IPA(key): (Valencia) [ɡɾa.ðuˈal] Rhymes: -al Hyphenation: gra‧du‧al === Adjective === gradual m or f (masculine and feminine plural graduals) gradual ==== Derived terms ==== gradualment ==== Related terms ==== grau === Further reading === “gradual”, in Diccionari de la llengua catalana [Dictionary of the Catalan Language] (in Catalan), second edition, Institute of Catalan Studies [Catalan: Institut d'Estudis Catalans], April 2007 “gradual”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2026 “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. === Pronunciation === Rhymes: -al Hyphenation: gra‧du‧al === Adjective === gradual m or f (plural graduais) gradual ==== Derived terms ==== gradualmente ==== Related terms ==== grao === Further reading === “gradual”, in Dicionario da Real Academia Galega (in Galician), A Coruña: Royal Galician Academy, 2012–2026 “gradual”, in Dicionário Estraviz de galego (in Galician), 2014–2026 == Occitan == === Alternative forms === graduau === Pronunciation === === Adjective === gradual m (feminine singular graduala, masculine plural graduals, feminine plural gradualas) gradual ==== Derived terms ==== gradualament === Further reading === Diccionari General de la Lenga Occitana‎[1], L’Academia occitana – Consistòri del Gai Saber, 2008-2025, page 357 == Portuguese == === Etymology === Learned borrowing from Medieval Latin graduālis. === Pronunciation === Rhymes: (Portugal) -al, (Brazil) -aw Hyphenation: gra‧du‧al === Adjective === gradual m or f (plural graduais, comparable, comparative mais gradual, superlative o mais gradual or gradualíssimo) gradual (which is done by degrees) gradual, progressive (that increases or decreases little by little) Synonyms: gradativo, progressivo ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== === Noun === gradual m (plural graduais) (Christianity) gradual (verses of the mass, between the Epistle and the Gospel) (Christianity, music) gradual (plainchant book) === Further reading === “gradual”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2026 “gradual” in Dicionário Aberto based on Novo Diccionário da Língua Portuguesa de Cândido de Figueiredo, 1913 “gradual”, in Dicionário inFormal (in Portuguese), 2006–2026 “gradual”, in Dicionário infopédia da Lingua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Porto: Porto Editora, 2003–2026 “gradual”, in Michaelis Dicionário Brasileiro da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), São Paulo: Editora Melhoramentos, 2015–2026, →ISBN “gradual”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2026 == Spanish == === Etymology === Borrowed from Medieval Latin graduālis. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ɡɾaˈdwal/ [ɡɾaˈð̞wal] Rhymes: -al Syllabification: gra‧dual === Adjective === gradual m or f (masculine and feminine plural graduales) gradual ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== === Noun === gradual m (plural graduales) (Roman Catholicism) gradual === Further reading === “gradual”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025