Etymograph

English

gradual

Gradual comes from Medieval Latin graduālis ‘stepwise, gradual’, from Latin gradus ‘step’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʰradʰ-.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʰradʰ-1reconstructed
  2. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEgradus1‘step’
  3. Medieval Latinc. 600–1500graduālis1‘stepwise, gradual’
  4. Englishearliest quotation 1667gradual1

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor

  1. 1 Wiktionary, English gradual
  2. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 1667, John Milton, Book IX: “Creatures animate with gradual life / Of growth, sense,…”.

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʰradʰ-Wiktionary, English gradualreconstructed
  2. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEgradusWiktionary, English gradual‘step’
  3. Medieval Latinc. 600–1500graduālisWiktionary, English gradual‘stepwise, gradual’
  4. Englishearliest quotation 1667gradualWiktionary, English gradual. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 1667, John Milton, Book IX: “Creatures animate with gradual life / Of growth, sense,…”

Linked words

through Latin gradus ‘step’

degree, grade, gree, gradation, 3 more

Today it means

adj Proceeding or advancing by small, slow, regular steps or degrees

Sources

Sources: Wiktionary, “gradual”. By Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org (dump of Oct 3 2026); text adapted and restructured. Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word. License.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *gʰradʰ- / gradual

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