English
gradation
Gradation comes from Latin gradātus ‘stepped’, from gradus ‘step’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʰredʰ- ‘to walk, go’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʰredʰ-‘to walk, go’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*graðusreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEgradus‘step’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEgradātus‘stepped’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEgradātiōas gradātiōnem
- Frenchc. 1600–presentgradation
- Englishearliest quotation 1832same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʰredʰ-‘to walk, go’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*graðusreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEgradus‘step’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEgradātus‘stepped’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEgradātiōas gradātiōnem
- Frenchc. 1600–presentgradation
- Englishearliest quotation 1832same form
Earliest quotation: 1832, Isaac Taylor, Saturday Evening. […]: “the several gradations of the intelligent universe”.
Equivalent to grade + -ation
Proto-Indo-European *gʰradʰ-
Proto-Italic *graðus
Latin gradus ‘a step’
Middle French grade ‘a grade’
English grade
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *gʰredʰ- ‘to walk, go’
progress, congress, ingredient, aggression, gradient, aggressor, retrograde, digress, regress, 27 more
through Latin gradus ‘step’
Today it means
noun A sequence of gradual, successive stages; a systematic progression.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *gʰredʰ- / gradation