Lewis & Short

paulātim (paull-), adv. [paulum], by little and little, by degrees, gradually (syn. sensim).

  1. I. Lit.: labefacto paulatim, Plaut. Merc. 2, 3, 68: paulatim Germanos consuescere Rhenum transire, Caes. B. G. 1, 33: collis leviter fastigatus paulatim ad planitiem redibat, id. ib. 2, 8; Cael. ap. Cic. Fam. 8, 17, 1: ubi paulatim licentia crevit, Sall. C. 51, 30; Verg. E. 4, 28: paulatim adnabam terrae, id. A. 6, 358: calere, Juv. 1, 83: aliquem accipere, id. 2, 84: vitia exuere, id. 13, 188.
  2. II. In partic., of the succession of parts one after the other, a few or a little at a time: paulatim ex castris discedere coeperunt, non omnes simul, sed subinde pauci, Caes. B. G. 4, 30; cf. Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 45; Dig. 49, 14, 47.
    With gen.: aquae paulatim addito, add water a little at a time, Cato, R. R. 74.