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Gradual vs Expedient - What's the difference?

gradual | expedient |

As adjectives the difference between gradual and expedient

is that gradual is proceeding by steps or small degrees; advancing step by step, as in ascent or descent or from one state to another; regularly progressive; slow while expedient is simple, easy, or quick; convenient.

As nouns the difference between gradual and expedient

is that gradual is an antiphon or responsory after the epistle, in the Mass, which was sung on the steps, or while the deacon ascended the steps while expedient is a method or means for achieving a particular result, especially when direct or efficient; a resource.

gradual

English

Alternative forms

* graduall (obsolete)

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Proceeding by steps or small degrees; advancing step by step, as in ascent or descent or from one state to another; regularly progressive; slow.
    • a gradual''' increase of knowledge; a '''gradual decline
  • * Milton
    • Creatures animate with gradual life / Of growth, sense, reason, all summed up in man.

    Synonyms

    * (l)

    Antonyms

    * sudden * abrupt

    Derived terms

    * gradually

    See also

    * (l)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (Roman Catholic Church) An antiphon or responsory after the epistle, in the Mass, which was sung on the steps, or while the deacon ascended the steps.
  • (Roman Catholic Church) A service book containing the musical portions of the Mass.

    • expedient

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Simple, easy, or quick; convenient.
    • Most people, faced with a decision, will choose the most expedient option.
  • * Bible, John xvi. 7
    • It is expedient for you that I go away.
  • * Whately
    • Nothing but the right can ever be expedient , since that can never be true expediency which would sacrifice a greater good to a less.
  • Governed by self-interest, often short-term self-interest.
  • * 1861 , John Stuart Mill,
    • But the Expedient', in the sense in which it is opposed to the Right, generally means that which is ' expedient for the particular interest of the agent himself; as when a minister sacrifices the interests of his country to keep himself in place.
  • (obsolete) Quick; rapid; expeditious.
  • * Shakespeare
    • His marches are expedient to this town.

    Related terms

    * expede * expedience * expediency * expedite * expedition

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A method or means for achieving a particular result, especially when direct or efficient; a resource.
  • * 1906 , O. Henry, :
    • He would never let her know that he was aware of the strange expedient to which she had been driven by her great distress.
  • * 2009 , (Diarmaid MacCulloch), A History of Christianity , Penguin 2010, page 709:
    • Depressingly, [...] the expedient of importing African slaves was in part meant to protect the native American population from exploitation.

    External links

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