n. steady advancement from rank to rank.promotion according to seniority 逐步升级，按资历提升。 △Oth.1.1.36: “Preferment goes by letter andaffection,/And not by old gradation，”i.e. not bysteady advancement from rank to rank,as in the olddays. 升官得靠个人推荐和私情，而不是像过去那样按资历逐步提升。