gradatio
Ἔοικα γοῦν τούτου γε σμικρῷ τινι αὐτῷ τούτῳ σοφώτερος εἶναι, ὅτι ἃ μὴ οἶδα οὐδὲ οἴομαι εἰδέναι → I seem, then, in just this little thing to be wiser than this man at any rate, that what I do not know I do not think I know either
Latin > English (Lewis & Short)
grădātĭo: ōnis, f. id.. *
I Lit., the making of a staircase or series of steps, as in a theatre: lapideis et marmoreis copiis gradationes (theatri) ab substructione fieri debent, the seats ascending by gradations, Vitr. 5, 3.—
II Trop., rhet. t. t., a gradation or climax in speaking, Gr. κλῖμαξ>: gradatio est, in qua non ante ad consequens verbum descenditur, quam ad superius conscensum est, hoc modo: Nam quae reliqua spes manet libertatis, si illis et quod libet, licet; et quod licet, possunt; et quod possunt, audent; et quod audent, faciunt; et quod faciunt, vobis molestum non est? etc., Auct. Her. 4, 25, 34; Cic. de Or. 3, 54, 207; Quint. 9, 1, 34; 9, 3, 54; Isid. 2, 21, 4.
