Graduate | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Grād'ū-āte, v. t.

verbtransitive

(grăd′/yū-āt), v. t. [imp. & p. p. GRADUATED; p. pr. & vb. n. GRADUATING.] [L. Lat. graduare, graduatum, from Lat. gradus, It. graduare, Pr., Sp., & Pg. graduar, Fr. graduer.]

To mark with degrees; to divide into regular steps, grades, or intervals, as a scale, a thermometer, and the like.
To admit or elevate to a certain grade or degree; especially, in a college or university, to admit to an honorable standing defined by a diploma. “Graduated a doctor.” Curēw.
To prepare gradually; to arrange, temper, or modify by degrees.

Dyers advance and graduate their colors with salts. Browne.

Grăd'ū-āte, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. 1. To pass to, or to receive, a degree in a college or university. 2. To pass by degrees; to change gradually; as, sandstone which graduates into gneiss; carnelian sometimes graduates into quartz. Kirwan.

Grăd'ū-ate, n.

noun

(45), n. [L. Lat. graduatum, from graduare, It. graduato, Sp. graduado, Fr. gradué. See supra.] One who has been admitted to a degree in a college or university, or by some professional incorporated society.

Grăd'ū-ate, a.

adjective

a. Arranged by successive steps or degrees; graduated.

Beginning with the genus, passing through all the graduate and subordinate stages. Tatham.