Steady; by degrees (7)
I believe the answer is:
gradual
This clue is a double definition.
'steady' is the first definition.
(I've seen this before)
'by degrees' is the second definition.
(I've seen this before)
(Other definitions for gradual that I've seen before include "Continuous" , "Progressive" , "(Of slope) not steep" , "Not steep or abrupt" , "mass response" .)