taking place, changing, moving, etc., by small degrees or little by little: gradual improvement in health.
2.
rising or descending at an even, moderate inclination: a gradual slope.
–noun
3.
Ecclesiastical. (often initial capital letter)
a.
an antiphon sung between the Epistle and the Gospel in the Eucharistic service.
b.
a book containing the words and music of the parts of the liturgy that are sung by the choir.
Origin: 1375–1425; late ME < ML graduālis pertaining to steps, graduāle the part of the service sung as the choir stood on the altar steps, equiv. to L gradu(s) step, grade+ -ālis-al1
grad·u·al (grāj'ōō-əl) adj. Advancing or progressing by regular or continuous degrees: gradual erosion; a gradual slope. n.
Roman Catholic Church
The liturgical book containing the chants for the Mass.
A biblical text sung between the Epistle and the Gospel of the Mass.
[Middle English, having steps, from Medieval Latin graduālis, from Latin gradus, step; see grade. N., Middle English, from Medieval Latin graduāle, the part of the service sung by the choir from the altar steps, gradual, from neuter sing. of graduālis.] grad'u·al·ly adv., grad'u·al·ness n.
[graj-oo-uh
l] 