Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Drag to rotate
Tracing “”…
Where does the word "gradual" come from? It comes from Latin gradus, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).
Read the full story
Where does the word "gradual" come from? It comes from Latin gradus, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).
Gradual’s story begins in Latin: gradus meant “a step.” A step, the root behind change occurring step by step. It reached English by 1400s as gradual. Settled as the English word for something happening slowly, step by step. Today, gradual means happening or changing slowly, over a period of time.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient gradus "a step", a step, the root behind change occurring step by step.
- Stage 2 · English · 1400s gradual "happening slowly, step by step", settled as the English word for something happening slowly, step by step.