Past tense of grade; having been assigned a rank, level, or score. Also describes something arranged in gradual stages or having been leveled to a uniform slope.
From Latin gradus meaning 'step, pace, degree.' The educational sense developed in the 19th century as formal schooling became standardized and hierarchical.
The concept of 'grading' reflects humanity's need to create order and hierarchy from chaos. Whether we're grading papers, roads, or diamonds, we're essentially creating artificial steps or degrees - the same impulse that built pyramids and organized military ranks.
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