gradior

Gradior is a Latin deponent verb meaning to step, walk, or advance. As a deponent, its forms are passive in form but active in meaning, so it translates to “I step” or “I proceed” rather than a literal passive sense. The standard dictionary entry lists the principal parts as gradior, gradi, gressus sum. The infinitive is gradi, and the perfect participle is gressus sum, with the supine gressum. The verb belongs to the gradior group, characterized by -ior endings in the present system and a related supine form derived from gressus.

Etymology and related forms trace to gradus, meaning step or degree, giving rise to English derivatives such as gradient, progress, and graduated. As a motion verb, gradior commonly conveys physical movement or progress along a path, but it can also be used metaphorically to indicate progression toward a goal or advancement in a process.

Usage notes include its intransitive sense of moving forward, typically with directional phrases such as per or ad with appropriate cases to indicate path or destination. For example, a Latin sentence might express “Dux per agros graditur,” meaning the leader advances across the fields. Being deponent, gradior forms its tenses with passive morphology, but the translation remains active.

In classical Latin, gradior is used in narratives and poetry to describe stepping, moving forward, or making progress, both literally and figuratively. It stands in contrast to non-deponent motion verbs that carry an active voice. Related terms include gradus (step) and gressus (stride, pace).