de|clen|sion

de|clen|sion «dih KLEHN shuhn», noun.

1. Grammar. a) the giving of the different endings or forms to nouns, pronouns, and adjectives according to their case, number, and gender, or their relation to other words in the sentence. SYNONYM(S): inflection. b) the giving of variant forms of a word for case only. The declension of who is: nominative case, who; possessive case, whose; objective case, whom. c) all such forms of a word written or recited in a given order. d) a group of words whose endings for the different cases, number, or gender, are alike: »

Latin nouns are usually grouped in five declensions.

2. a downward movement, bend, or slope: »

the declension of the sun toward the west.

SYNONYM(S): incline, declination, declivity, dip.

3. Figurative. a sinking into a lower or inferior condition; decline. SYNONYM(S): deterioration, decadence, degeneration.

4. Figurative. a turning away (from one's religion, faith, or other beliefs); deviation from a standard. SYNONYM(S): defection.

5. a polite refusal.

╂[perhaps < Old French déclinaison, learned borrowing from dēclīnātiō, -ōnis < dēclināre; see etym. under decline (Cf. ↑decline)]