SG Heritage Dictionary

Gradation [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. A series of ascending steps or degrees, or a proceeding step by step; hence, progress from one degree or state to another; a regular advance from step to step. We observe a gradation in the progress of society from a rude to civilized life. Men may arrive by several gradations to the most horrid impiety.

2. A degree in any order or series; we observe a gradation in the scale of being, from brute to mane, from man to angels.

3. Order; series; regular process by degrees or steps; as a gradation in argument or description.

Gradation [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

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.

4. A gradual passing from one tint to another or from a darker to a lighter shade, as in painting or drawing.

5. A diatonic ascending or descending succession of chords.

Gradation [Verb transitive] Webster's Dictionary 1913

To form with gradations.

Gradational [Adjective] Webster's Dictionary 1913

By regular steps or gradations; of or pertaining to gradation.

Degree Roget’s Thesaurus §26

N. degree, grade, extent, measure, amount, ratio, stint, standard, height, pitch, reach, amplitude, range, scope, caliber, gradation, shade, tenor, compass, sphere, station, rank, standing, rate, way, sort, point, mark, stage, intensity, strength

Adj. comparative, gradual, shading off, within the bounds

Adv. by degrees, gradually, inasmuch, pro tanto, however, howsoever, step by step, bit by bit, little by little, inch by inch, drop by drop, a little at a time, by inches, by slow degrees, by degrees, by little and little, in some degree, in some measure, to some extent, di grado in grado, 2, comparative quantity

Order Roget’s Thesaurus §58

N. order, regularity, uniformity, symmetry, lucidus ordo, music of the spheres, gradation, progression, series, subordination, course, even tenor, routine, method, disposition, arrangement, array, system, economy, discipline orderliness, rank, place

V. be in order, become in order, form, fall in, draw up, arrange itself, range itself, place itself, fall into one's place, take one's place, take one's rank, rally round, adjust, methodize, regulate, systematize

Adj. orderly, regular, in order, in trim, in apple-pie order, in its proper place, neat, tidy, en regle, well regulated, correct, methodical, uniform, symmetrical, shipshape, businesslike, systematic, unconfused &c. (see confuse ), arranged

Adv. in order, methodically, in -turn, - its turn, step by step, by regular -steps, -gradations, -stages, -intervals, seriatim, systematically, by clockwork, gradatim, at stated periods

Phr. natura non facit saltum, "order is heaven's first law", "order from disorder sprung", ordo est parium dispariumque rerum sua loca tribuens dispositio

Continuity Roget’s Thesaurus §69

N. continuity, consecution, consecutiveness, succession, round, suite, progression, series, train chain, catenation, concatenation, scale, gradation, course, ceaselessness, constant flow, unbroken extent, procession, column, retinue, cortege, cavalcade, rank and file, line of battle, array, pedigree, genealogy, lineage, race, ancestry, descent, family, house, line, line of ancestors, strain, rank, file, line, row, range, tier, string, thread, team, suit, colonnade

V. follow in a series, form a series, fall in, arrange in a series, collate, string together, file, thread, graduate, organize, sort, tabulate

Adj. continuous, continued, consecutive, progressive, gradual, serial, successive, immediate, unbroken, entire, linear, in a line, in a row, uninterrupted, unintermitting, unremitting, unrelenting (perseverence) 604a, perennial, evergreen, constant

Adv. continuously, seriatim, in a line, in succession, in turn, running, gradually, step by step, gradatim, at a stretch, in file, in column, in single file, in indian file