gradation Copy link Outline 1. grădus, ūs, m.2. grădātio (a term in rhetoric) • gradation: 1. grădus, ūs, m.: g.s of duties, g. officiorum, Cic.: all g.s of sounds, omnes sonorum g., Cic.: v. degree. 2. grădātio (a term in rhetoric): Cic. de Or. 3, 54, 207: v. climax. Phr.: in g.s, gradatim: e. g., gradatim amicos habere, Plin. Ep. 2, 6, 2.