Graciously Gra"cious·ly adverb 1. In a gracious manner; courteously; benignantly. Dryden. 2. Fortunately; luckily. [ Obsolete]
Chaucer.
Graciousness Gra"cious·ness noun Quality of being gracious.
Grackle Grac"kle noun [ Confer Latin
graculus jackdaw.]
(Zoology) (a) One of several American blackbirds, of the family Icteridæ ; as, the rusty grackle ( Scolecophagus Carolinus ); the boat-tailed grackle (see Boat-tail); the purple grackle ( Quiscalus quiscula , or Q. versicolor ). See Crow blackbird , under Crow . (b) An Asiatic bird of the genus Gracula . See Myna .
Gradate Gra"date transitive verb [ See
Grade .]
1. To grade or arrange (parts in a whole, colors in painting, etc.), so that they shall harmonize. 2. (Chemistry) To bring to a certain strength or grade of concentration; as, to gradate a saline solution.
Gradation Gra·da"tion noun , [ Latin
gradatio : confer French
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 transitive verb To form with gradations. [ R.]
Gradational Gra·da"tion·al adjective By regular steps or gradations; of or pertaining to gradation.
Gradatory Grad"a·to·ry adjective [ 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. (Zoology) Suitable for walking; -- said of the limbs of an animal when adapted for walking on land.
Gradatory Grad"a·to·ry noun [ Confer Late Latin
gradatarium .]
(Architecture) A series of steps from a cloister into a church.
Grade Grade noun [ French
grade , Latin
gradus step, pace, grade, from
gradi to step, go. Confer
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 transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Graded ;
present participle & verbal noun Grading .]
1. To arrange in order, steps, or degrees, according to size, quality, rank, etc. 2. To reduce to a level, or to an evenly progressive ascent, as the line of a canal or road. 3. (Stock Breeding) To cross with some better breed; to improve the blood of.
Gradely Grade"ly adjective [ Confer Anglo-Saxon
grad grade, step, order, from Latin
gradus . See
Grade .]
Decent; orderly. [ Prov. Eng.]
Halliwell. --
adverb Decently; in order. [ Prov. Eng.]
Grader Grad"er noun One who grades, or that by means of which grading is done or facilitated.
Gradient Gra"di·ent adjective [ Latin
gradiens ,
present participle of
gradi to step, to go. See
Grade .]
1. Moving by steps; walking; as, gradient automata. Wilkins. 2. Rising or descending by regular degrees of inclination; as, the gradient line of a railroad. 3. Adapted for walking, as the feet of certain birds.
Gradient Gra"di·ent noun 1. The rate of regular or graded ascent or descent in a road; grade. 2. A part of a road which slopes upward or downward; a portion of a way not level; a grade. 3. The rate of increase or decrease of a variable magnitude, or the curve which represents it; as, a thermometric gradient. Gradient post ,
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.
Gradin, Gradine Gra"din, Gra·dine" noun [ French
gradin ,
dim .
of grade . See
Grade .]
(Architecture) Any member like a step, as the raised back of an altar or the like; a set raised over another. "The
gradines of the amphitheeater."
Layard.
Gradine Gra·dine" noun [ French
gradine .]
A toothed chised by sculptors.
Grading Grad"ing noun 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.
Gradino Gra·di"no noun ;
plural Gradinos . [ Italian ]
(Architecture) A step or raised shelf, as above a sideboard or altar. Confer Superaltar , and Gradin .
Gradual Grad"u·al" ;
adjective [ Cf; French
graduel . See
Grade , and confer
Gradual ,
noun ]
Proceeding by steps or degrees; advancing, step by step, as in ascent or descent or from one state to another; regularly progressive; slow; as, a gradual increase of knowledge; a gradual decline. Creatures animate with gradual life
Of growth, sense, reason, all summed up in man.
Milton.
Gradual Grad"u·al noun [ Late Latin
graduale a gradual (in sense 1), from Latin
gradus step: confer French
graduel . See
Grade , and confer
Grail a gradual.]
1. (R. C. Ch.) (a) An antiphon or responsory after the epistle, in the Mass, which was sung on the steps, or while the deacon ascended the steps. (b) A service book containing the musical portions of the Mass. 2. A series of steps. [ Obsolete]
Dryden.
Graduality Grad"u·al"i·ty noun The state of being gradual; gradualness. [ R.]
Sir T. Browne.
Gradually Grad"u·al·ly adverb 1. In a gradual manner. 2. In degree. [ Obsolete]
Human reason doth not only gradually , but specifically, differ from the fantastic reason of brutes.
Grew.
Gradualness Grad"u·al·ness noun The quality or state of being gradual; regular progression or gradation; slowness. The gradualness of this movement.
M. Arnold. The gradualness of growth is a characteristic which strikes the simplest observer.
H. Drummond.
Graduate Grad"u·ate transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Graduated present participle & verbal noun Graduating ] [ Confer French
graduer . See
Graduate ,
noun ,
Grade .]
1. To mark with degrees; to divide into regular steps, grades, or intervals, as the scale of a thermometer, a scheme of punishment or rewards, etc. 2. To admit or elevate to a certain grade or degree; esp., in a college or university, to admit, at the close of the course, to an honorable standing defined by a diploma; as, he was graduated at Yale College. 3. To prepare gradually; to arrange, temper, or modify by degrees or to a certain degree; to determine the degrees of; as, to graduate the heat of an oven. Dyers advance and graduate their colors with salts.
Browne. 4. (Chemistry) To bring to a certain degree of consistency, by evaporation, as a fluid. Graduating engine ,
a dividing engine. See Dividing engine, under Dividing .
Graduate Grad"u·ate intransitive verb 1. To pass by degrees; to change gradually; to shade off; as, sandstone which graduates into gneiss; carnelian sometimes graduates into quartz. 2. (Zoology) To taper, as the tail of certain birds. 3. To take a degree in a college or university; to become a graduate; to receive a diploma. He graduated at Oxford.
Latham. He was brought to their bar and asked where he had graduated .
Macaulay.
Graduate Grad"u·ate noun [ Late Latin
graduatus , past participle of graduare to admit to a degree, from Latin
gradus grade. See
Grade ,
noun ]
1. One who has received an academical or professional degree; one who has completed the prescribed course of study in any school or institution of learning. 2. A graduated cup, tube, or flask; a measuring glass used by apothecaries and chemists. See under Graduated .
Graduate Grad"u·ate adjective [ See
Graduate ,
noun & v. ]
Arranged by successive steps or degrees; graduated. Beginning with the genus, passing through all the graduate
and subordinate stages.
Tatham.
Graduated Grad"u·a"ted adjective 1. Marked with, or divided into, degrees; divided into grades. 2. (Zoology) Tapered; -- said of a bird's tail when the outer feathers are shortest, and the others successively longer. Graduated tube, bottle, cap, or glass ,
a vessel, usually of glass, having horizontal marks upon its sides, with figures, to indicate the amount of the contents at the several levels. --
Graduated spring (Railroads) ,
a combination of metallic and rubber springs.
Graduateship Grad"u·ate·ship noun State of being a graduate. Milton.
Graduation Grad"u·a"tion noun [ Late Latin graduatio promotion to a degree: confer F. graduation division into degrees.]
1. The act of graduating, or the state of being graduated; as, graduation of a scale; graduation at a college; graduation in color; graduation by evaporation; the graduation of a bird's tail, etc. 2. The marks on an instrument or vessel to indicate degrees or quantity; a scale. 3. The exposure of a liquid in large surfaces to the air, so as to hasten its evaporation.
Graduator Grad"u·a"tor noun 1. One who determines or indicates graduation; as, a graduator of instruments. 2. An instrument for dividing any line, right or curve, into small, regular intervals. 3. An apparatus for diffusing a solution, as brine or vinegar, over a large surface, for exposure to the air.
Gradus Gra"dus noun [ From Latin gradus ad Parnassum a step to Parnassus.]
A dictionary of prosody, designed as an aid in writing Greek or Latin poetry. He set to work . . . without gradus or other help.
T. Hughes.
Graf Graf noun [ G. Confer
-grave .]
A German title of nobility, equivalent to earl in English, or count in French. See Earl .
Graff Graff noun [ Middle English
grafe ,
greife ,
greive . Confer
Margrave .]
A steward; an overseer. [ A prince] is nothing but a servant, overseer, or graff , and not the head, which is a title belonging only to Christ.
John Knox.
Graff Graff noun & v. See Graft .
Graffage Graff"age noun [ Confer Grave,
noun ]
The scarp of a ditch or moat. "To clean the
graffages ."
Miss Mitford.
Graffer Graf"fer noun [ See Greffier.]
(Law.) a notary or scrivener. Bouvier.
Graffiti Graf·fi"ti noun plural [ Italian , plural of
graffito scratched]
Inscriptions, figure drawings, etc., found on the walls of ancient sepulchers or ruins, as in the Catacombs, or at Pompeii.
Graffito Graf·fi"to noun [ Italian , from
graffio a scratching.]
(Art) Production of decorative designs by scratching them through a surface of layer plaster, glazing, etc., revealing a different-colored ground; also, pottery or ware so decorated; -- chiefly used attributively.
Graft Graft noun [ Middle English
graff , French
greffe , originally the same word as Old French
grafe pencil, Latin
graphium , Greek ..., ..., from ... to write; probably akin to English
carve . So named from the resemblance of a scion or shoot to a pointed pencil. Confer
Graphic ,
Grammar. ]
(a) A small shoot or scion of a tree inserted in another tree, the stock of which is to support and nourish it. The two unite and become one tree, but the graft determines the kind of fruit. (b) A branch or portion of a tree growing from such a shoot. (c) (Surg.) A portion of living tissue used in the operation of autoplasty.
Graft Graft transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Grafted ;
present participle & verbal noun Grafting .] [ French
greffer . See
Graft ,
noun ]
1. To insert (a graft) in a branch or stem of another tree; to propagate by insertion in another stock; also, to insert a graft upon. [ Formerly written
graff .]
2. (Surg.) To implant a portion of (living flesh or akin) in a lesion so as to form an organic union. 3. To join (one thing) to another as if by grafting, so as to bring about a close union. And graft my love immortal on thy fame !
Pope. 4. (Nautical) To cover, as a ring bolt, block strap, splicing, etc., with a weaving of small cord or rope- yarns.
Graft Graft intransitive verb To insert scions from one tree, or kind of tree, etc., into another; to practice grafting.
Graft Graft noun [ Prob. orig. so called because illegitimate or improper profit was looked upon as a
graft , or sort of excrescence, on a legitimate business undertaking, in distinction from its natural proper development.]
1. Acquisition of money, position, etc., by dishonest or unjust means, as by actual theft or by taking advantage of a public office or any position of trust or employment to obtain fees, perquisites, profits on contracts, legislation, pay for work not done or service not performed, etc.; illegal or unfair practice for profit or personal advantage; also, anything thus gained. [ Colloq.]
2. A "soft thing" or "easy thing;" a "snap." [ Slang]
Graftage Graft"age noun (Hort.) The science of grafting, including the various methods of practice and details of operation.
Grafter Graft"er noun 1. One who inserts scions on other stocks, or propagates fruit by ingrafting. 2. An instrument by which grafting is facilitated. 3. The original tree from which a scion has been taken for grafting upon another tree. Shak.
Grafting Graft"ing noun 1.
(Hort.) The act, art, or process of inserting grafts.
2. (Nautical) The act or method of weaving a cover for a ring, rope end, etc. 3. (Surg.) The transplanting of a portion of flesh or skin to a denuded surface; autoplasty. 4. (Carp.) A scarfing or endwise attachment of one timber to another. Cleft grafting (Hort.) a method of grafting in which the scion is placed in a cleft or slit in the stock or stump made by sawing off a branch, usually in such a manaer that its bark evenly joins that of the stock. --
Crown, or Rind, grafting ,
a method of grafting which the alburnum and inner bark are separated, and between them is inserted the lower end of the scion cut slantwise. --
Saddle grafting ,
a mode of grafting in which a deep cleft is made in the end of the scion by two sloping cuts, and the end of the stock is made wedge-shaped to fit the cleft in the scion, which is placed upon it saddlewise. --
Side grafting ,
a mode of grafting in which the scion, cut quite across very obliquely, so as to give it the form of a slender wedge, is thrust down inside of the bark of the stock or stem into which it is inserted, the cut side of the scion being next the wood of the stock. --
Skin grafting .
(Surg.) See Autoplasty. --
Splice grafting (Hort.) ,
a method of grafting by cutting the ends of the scion and stock completely across and obliquely, in such a manner that the sections are of the same shape, then lapping the ends so that the one cut surface exactly fits the other, and securing them by tying or otherwise. --
Whip grafting ,
tongue grafting, the same as splice grafting, except that a cleft or slit is made in the end of both scion and stock, in the direction of the grain and in the middle of the sloping surface, forming a kind of tongue, so that when put together, the tongue of each is inserted in the slit of the other. --
Grafting scissors ,
a surgeon's scissors, used in rhinoplastic operations, etc. --
Grafting tool .
(a) Any tool used in grafting. (b) A very strong curved spade used in digging canals. --
Grafting wax ,
a composition of rosin, beeswax tallow, etc., used in binding up the wounds of newly grafted trees.
Graham bread Gra"ham bread" [ From Sylvester Graham , a lecturer on dietetics.] Bread made of unbolted wheat flour. [ U. S.] Bartlett.
Grahamite Gra"ham·ite noun [ See
Graham bread .]
One who follows the dietetic system of Graham. [ U. S.]
Grail Grail noun [ Old French
greel , Late Latin
gradale. See
Gradual ,
noun ]
A book of offices in the Roman Catholic Church; a gradual. [ Obsolete]
T. Warton. Such as antiphonals, missals, grails , processionals, etc.
Strype.
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