by degrees
English edit
Prepositional phrase edit
- In gradual steps; bit by bit.
- [1877], Anna Sewell, “Earlshall”, in Black Beauty: […], London: Jarrold and Sons, […], →OCLC, part II, page 102:
- She came to us snappish and suspicious, but when she found what sort of place ours was, it all went off by degrees; […]
- 1880, William Blades, The Enemies of Books, page 36:
- By degrees the libraries which were unendowed fell behind the age, and were consequently neglected.
Synonyms edit
- in order, step by step; see also Thesaurus:sequentially
Translations edit
in gradual steps
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