Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “gradual” come from?

Gradual comes from Medieval Latin gradualis, derived from Latin gradus (step, degree), from the verb gradi (to walk, go), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European gʰredʰ-.

gradual (English): Proceeding or advancing by small, slow, regular...

Definitions

  1. Proceeding or advancing by small, slow, regular...

Ancestry of “gradual”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Medieval Latingradualis—
2Latingradusa step, pace; a stage, degree; a rank
3Proto-Italicgraðus—
4Proto-Indo-Europeangʰradʰ-—

Words derived from “gradual”

  • gradually
  • gradualism
  • gradualist
  • gradualness
  • gradualistic
  • graduality
  • nongradual
  • ungradual
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰradʰ- →