A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

pedetemptim, or pedetentim (adv.): pes-tendo ‘by stretching out the feet;’ step by step, slowly; syn. gradatim, paulatim, sensim; by degrees, gradually, cautiously; compar. pedetemptius (Lewis & Short);

Note: the adverb is often associated with adjj. in the comparative degree.

- pustulæ hæ nunc rotundæ sunt, nunc oblongæ, in medio folio majores, circa pediculum & versus margines podetentim minores (Dill.), these pustules are sometimes rounded, sometimes oblong, larger in the leaf middle, around the pedicel and towards the margins gradually smaller.

- observandum autem folia càulium, quo magis inferiorem caulis locum occupant, eo pedetentim minora fieri, donec iis, quæ in ramis nascuntur, similia fiant (Dill.), it is to be observed [i.e. noticed], however, that the leaves of the stem, anywhere they occupy a more lower place of the stem, in that place they become gradually smaller, until finally they may appear similar to those which arise on the branches.

- a praecedenti species differt flagellis longioribus, & foliis paulo longioribus, pedetentim contractis (Dill.), the species differs from the preceding by the flagella longer, and by the leaves somewhat longer, gradually contracted.

- foliis versus extremitates pedetentim minoribus, exceptis plantis capsuliferis, quae ramis carent (Dill.), with the leaves toward the extremities gradually smaller, with the exception of capsule-bearing plants, which lack branches.

- setæ pro longitudine sua & pro plantæ ratione crassæ sunt, præsertim versus capsulas, ut dubium sit, qua capsulæ basis, & qua setae finis fit, nam utræque pedetentim coalescunt (Dill.), the setae are thick relative to [i.e. in relation to] its own length and relative to the plant [i.e. the setae are thick for its length and for the plant], particularly towards [i.e. in the direction of] the capsules, since it may be in doubt, at which place may be the base of the capsule and at which place the limit of the seta may be, for both [i.e. each of the two] gradually grow together [i.e. coalesce].