by degrees en · ADP
Meanings
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In gradual steps; bit by bit.
She came to us snappish and suspicious, but when she found what sort of place ours was, it all went off by degrees; […]
[1877], Anna Sewell, “Earlshall”, in Black Beauty: […], London: Jarrold and Sons, […], →OCLC, part II, page 102:When Jem put his foot on the bottom step, the step squeaked. He stood still, then tried his weight by degrees. The step was silent.
1960 July 11, Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, Philadelphia, Pa.; New York, N.Y.: J[oshua] B[allinger] Lippincott Company, →OCLC:By degrees the libraries which were unendowed fell behind the age, and were consequently neglected.
1880, William Blades, The Enemies of Books, page 36:
Synonyms
Translations (12)
ru ма́ло-пома́лу (in gradual steps) · ru постепе́нно (in gradual steps) · ru понемно́гу (in gradual steps) · ta படிப்படியாய் (in gradual steps) · pt a pouco e pouco (in gradual steps) · pt gradualmente (in gradual steps) · cmn 逐漸地 /逐渐地 (in gradual steps) · ta வரவர (in gradual steps) · eo grade (in gradual steps) · fi asteittain (in gradual steps) · it a poco a poco (in gradual steps) · cy wrth raddau (in gradual steps)