Part 4923

<hw>Gra"di*ent</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The rate of regular or graded ascent or descent in a road; grade.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A part of a road which slopes upward or downward; a portion of a way not level; a grade.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>The rate of increase or decrease of a variable magnitude, or the curve which represents it; <as>as, a thermometric gradient</as>.</def>

<cs><col>Gradient post</col>, <cd>a post or stake indicating by its height or by marks on it the grade of a railroad, highway, or embankment, etc., at that spot.</cd></cs>

<h1>Gradin, Gradine</h1> <Xpage=642>

<hw><hw>Gra"din</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <hw>Gra*dine"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>,<hw> <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>gradin</ets>, <ets>dim</ets>. <ets>of grade</ets>. See <er>Grade</er>.]</ety> <fld>(Arch.)</fld> <def>Any member like a step, as the raised back of an altar or the like; a set raised over another.</def> "The <i>gradines</i> of the amphitheeater."

<i>Layard.</i>

<h1>Gradine</h1> <Xpage=642>

<hw>Gra*dine"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>gradine</ets>.]</ety> <def>A toothed chised by sculptors.</def>

<h1>Grading</h1> <Xpage=642>

<hw>Grad"ing</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The act or method of arranging in or by grade, or of bringing, as the surface of land or a road, to the desired level or grade.</def>

<h1>Gradino</h1> <Xpage=642>

<hw>Gra*di"no</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Gradinos</plw> <tt>(#)</tt></plu>. <ety>[It.]</ety> <fld>(Arch.)</fld> <def>A step or raised shelf, as above a sideboard or altar. Cf. <er>Superaltar</er>, and <er>Gradin</er>.</def>

<h1>Gradual</h1> <Xpage=642>

<hw>Grad"u*al"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[Cf; F. <ets>graduel</ets>. See <er>Grade</er>, and cf. <er>Gradual</er>, <tt>n.</tt>]</ety> <def>Proceeding by steps or degrees; advancing, step by step, as in ascent or descent or from one state to another; regularly progressive; slow; <as>as, a <ex>gradual</ex> increase of knowledge; a <ex>gradual</ex> decline.</as></def>

<blockquote>Creatures animate with <b>gradual</b> life Of growth, sense, reason, all summed up in man. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Gradual</h1> <Xpage=642>

<hw>Grad"u*al</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[LL. <ets>graduale</ets> a gradual (in sense 1), fr. L. <ets>gradus</ets> step: cf. F. <ets>graduel</ets>. See <er>Grade</er>, and cf. <er>Grail</er> a gradual.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <fld>(R. C. Ch.)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> <def>An antiphon or responsory after the epistle, in the Mass, which was sung on the steps, or while the deacon ascended the steps.</def> <sd>(b)</sd> <def>A service book containing the musical portions of the Mass.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A series of steps.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Dryden.</i>

<h1>Graduality</h1> <Xpage=642>

<hw>Grad"u*al"i*ty</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The state of being gradual; gradualness.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<i>Sir T. Browne.</i>

<h1>Gradually</h1> <Xpage=642>

<hw>Grad"u*al*ly</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>adv.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>In a gradual manner.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>In degree.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>Human reason doth not only <b>gradually</b>, but specifically, differ from the fantastic reason of brutes. <i>Grew.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Gradualness</h1> <Xpage=642>