Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PRO-GRES'SION, n. [Fr. from L. progressio, progredior.]

1. The act of moving forward; a proceeding in a course; motion onward. – Locke.
2. Intellectual advance; as, the progression of thought. – Locke.
3. Course; passage. – Shak.
4. In mathematics, regular or proportional advance in increase or decrease of numbers; continued proportion, arithmetical or geometrical. Continued arithmetical proportion, is when the terms increase or decrease by equal differences. Thus, {2. 4. 6. 8. 10. ~ 10. 8. 6. 4. 2.} by the difference 2. Geometrical proportion or progression, is when the terms increase or decrease by equal ratios. Thus, {2. 4. 8. 16. 32. 64. ~ 64. 32. 16. 8. 4. 2.} by a continual multiplication or division by 2. – Encyc.
5. In music, a regular succession of chords or movement of the parts in harmony.