English
gradient
Gradient comes from Latin gradiēns ‘stepping, walking’, from gradior ‘to step, to walk’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʰredʰ-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʰredʰ-‘to walk, go’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEgradior‘to step, to walk’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEgradiēns‘stepping, walking’present participle of gradior
- Englishearliest quotation 1648gradient
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʰredʰ-‘to walk, go’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEgradior‘to step, to walk’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEgradiēns‘stepping, walking’present participle of gradior
- Englishearliest quotation 1648gradient
Earliest quotation: 1648, John Wilkins, Mathematicall Magick. Or: “movable and Gradient Automata”.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *gʰredʰ- ‘to walk, go’
degree, progressive, graduate, progression, retrograde, gree, digression, gradation, 24 more
through Latin gradior ‘to step, to walk’
congress, progress, aggression, ingredient, aggressor, regress, digress, 25 more
Today it means
noun A slope or incline.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *gʰredʰ- / gradient