Gradation
(Gra*da"tion) n., [L. gradatio: cf. F. gradation. See Grade.]
1. The act of progressing by regular steps or orderly arrangement; the state of being graded or arranged
in ranks; as, the gradation of castes.
2. The act or process of bringing to a certain grade.
3. Any degree or relative position in an order or series.
The several gradations of the intelligent universe.
I. Taylor. 4. (Fine Arts) A gradual passing from one tint to another or from a darker to a lighter shade, as in
painting or drawing.
6. (Mus.) A diatonic ascending or descending succession of chords.
Gradation
(Gra*da"tion), v. t. To form with gradations. [R.]
Gradational
(Gra*da"tion*al) a. By regular steps or gradations; of or pertaining to gradation.
Gradatory
(Grad"a*to*ry) a. [See Grade.]
1. Proceeding step by step, or by gradations; gradual.
Could we have seen [Macbeth's] crimes darkening on their progress . . . could this gradatory apostasy
have been shown us.
A. Seward. 2. (Zoöl.) Suitable for walking; — said of the limbs of an animal when adapted for walking on land.
Gradatory
(Grad"a*to*ry), n. [Cf. LL. gradatarium.] (Arch.) A series of steps from a cloister into a
church.
Grade
(Grade) n. [F. grade, L. gradus step, pace, grade, from gradi to step, go. Cf. Congress, Degree,
Gradus.]
1. A step or degree in any series, rank, quality, order; relative position or standing; as, grades of military
rank; crimes of every grade; grades of flour.
They also appointed and removed, at their own pleasure,
teachers of every grade.
Buckle. 2. In a railroad or highway: (a) The rate of ascent or descent; gradient; deviation from a level surface
to an inclined plane; — usually stated as so many feet per mile, or as one foot rise or fall in so many of
horizontal distance; as, a heavy grade; a grade of twenty feet per mile, or of 1 in 264. (b) A graded
ascending, descending, or level portion of a road; a gradient.
3. (Stock Breeding) The result of crossing a native stock with some better breed. If the crossbreed
have more than three fourths of the better blood, it is called high grade.
At grade, on the same level; — said of the crossing of a railroad with another railroad or a highway,
when they are on the same level at the point of crossing. — Down grade, a descent, as on a graded
railroad. — Up grade, an ascent, as on a graded railroad. — Equating for grades. See under
Equate. — Grade crossing, a crossing at grade.
Grade
(Grade), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Graded; p. pr. & vb. n. Grading.]
1. To arrange in order, steps, or degrees, according to size, quality, rank, etc.
