de|cline

de|cline «dih KLYN», verb, -clined, -clin|ing, noun.

–v.t.

1. to turn away from doing; refuse (to do something): »

The boy declined to do what he was told.

SYNONYM(S): reject. See syn. under refuse. (Cf. ↑refuse)

2. to refuse politely: »

I have to decline your invitation because Mother expects me at home now. He declined my offer of help.

3. to cause to bend or slope down.

4. Grammar. to give the different cases or case endings of (a noun, pronoun, or adjective); inflect. See also declension, def. 1. (Cf. ↑declension)

–v.i.

1. to refuse something politely.

2. Figurative. to grow less in power, strength, wealth, or beauty; grow worse; decay: »

Great nations have risen and declined. A man's strength declines as he grows old.

SYNONYM(S): deteriorate, degenerate.

3. to bend or slope down: »

The hill declines to a fertile valley.

4. Figurative. to draw toward the close: »

The day declines early during the winter.

5. to stoop, especially to something unworthy.

6. Obsolete. to turn aside; deviate.

–n.

1. a falling to a lower level; sinking: »

a decline in prices, the decline of the sun to the horizon.

2. Figurative. a losing of power, strength, wealth, or beauty; growing worse: »

the decline of the Roman Empire. The old man's decline was apparent in his halting walk. In the decline of the ancient world it was saints rather than sages who were needed (Edmund Wilson).

SYNONYM(S): decay, deterioration, diminution.

3. the last part of anything: »

He grew old and weak in the decline of his life.

4. a wasting disease; consumption; tuberculosis of the lungs.

5. a downward incline or slope: »

The wagon rolled down the decline.

SYNONYM(S): declivity.

╂[< Latin dēclīnāre < dē- from + clīnāre to bend]