'Gradual' definitions:
Definition of 'gradual'
(from WordNet)
Definition of 'Gradual'
From: GCIDE
- Gradual \Grad"u*al"\; a. [Cf; F. graduel. See Grade, and cf. Gradual, n.] Proceeding by steps or degrees; advancing, step by step, as in ascent or descent or from one state to another; regularly progressive; slow; as, a gradual increase of knowledge; a gradual decline. [1913 Webster]
- Creatures animate with gradual life Of growth, sense, reason, all summed up in man. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Gradual'
From: GCIDE
- Gradual \Grad"u*al\, n. [LL. graduale a gradual (in sense 1), fr. L. gradus step: cf. F. graduel. See Grade, and cf. Grail a gradual.]
- 1. (R. C. Ch.) (a) An antiphon or responsory after the epistle, in the Mass, which was sung on the steps, or while the deacon ascended the steps. (b) A service book containing the musical portions of the Mass. [1913 Webster]
- 2. A series of steps. [Obs.] --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'gradual'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- ambling,
- cautious,
- circumspect,
- claudicant,
- crawling,
- creeping,
- creeping like snail,
- deliberate,
- dilatory,
- easy,
- even,
- faltering,
- flagging,
- foot-dragging,
- gentle,
- halting,
- hobbled,
- hobbling,
- idle,
- inchmeal,
- indolent,
- lagging,
- languid,
- languorous,
- lazy,
- leisurely,
- limping,
- lumbering,
- moderate,
- piecemeal,
- poking,
- poky,
- regular,
- relaxed,
- reluctant,
- sauntering,
- shuffling,
- slack,
- slothful,
- slow,
- slow as death,
- slow as molasses,
- slow as slow,
- slow-crawling,
- slow-foot,
- slow-going,
- slow-legged,
- slow-moving,
- slow-paced,
- slow-poky,
- slow-running,
- slow-sailing,
- slow-stepped,
- sluggish,
- snail-paced,
- snaillike,
- staggering,
- steady,
- step-by-step,
- strolling,
- tentative,
- toddling,
- tortoiselike,
- tottering,
- trudging,
- turtlelike,
- unhurried,
- waddling