'aggrade' originates from the Latin word 'ad-' meaning 'toward' and 'gradus' meaning 'step' or 'grade'.

'adgradus' transformed into the French word 'agrader', and eventually became the modern English word 'aggrade'.

Initially, it meant 'to step up or elevate', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'raising the level by sediment deposition'.