late Middle English: from medieval Latin gradualis, from Latin gradusstep. The original sense of the adjective was arranged in degrees; the noun refers to the altar steps in a church, from which the antiphons were sung
英英释义网络释义
noun
1.(Roman Catholic Church) an antiphon (usually from the Book of Psalms) immediately after the epistle at Mass
2.proceeding in small stages;
a gradual increase in prices
3.of a topographical gradient; not steep or abrupt;