The word 逐渐 is formed by combining two characters that both individually convey the idea of gradual progression, creating a reinforced, layered meaning. The first character, 逐, originally meant "to pursue" or "to drive out", but evolved to signify "one by one" or "in sequence", suggesting a step-by-step motion. The second character, 渐, means "gradually" or "to advance incrementally", often associated with the slow rising of water. When paired, they semantically compound to vividly depict a process that unfolds slowly, step by step, over a continuum of time, emphasizing a gentle, cumulative change.