English
grade
Grade comes from Middle French grade ‘a grade’, from Latin gradus ‘a step’, ultimately from PIE *gʰradʰ-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʰradʰ-reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*graðusreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEgradus‘a step’
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600grade‘a grade’
- Englishearliest quotation 1836same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʰradʰ-reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*graðusreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEgradus‘a step’
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600grade‘a grade’
- Englishearliest quotation 1836same form
Earliest quotation: 1836, John Greenleaf Whittier, Mogg Megone: “The whistle of the shot as it cuts the…”
Linked words
through Latin gradus ‘a step, pace, degree’
Today it means
noun A rating.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *gʰradʰ- / grade