declination

C2 Topic:Space, Position & Direction

US /ˌdɛklɪˈneɪʃən/ See IPA manual

noun Freq #79135

Meanings

1

noun
A polite refusal of an offer or invitation.

We received his declination of the invitation with regret.
2

noun
A downward slope or bend.

The slight declination of his head signalled his agreement.
3

noun
In astronomy, how far north or south a star or planet is from the celestial equator.

The star's declination tells astronomers its position in the sky.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a polite refusal of an... refusal rejection

2 noun · a downward slope or bend. fall

3 noun · in astronomy, how far north... dec

Word family

Forms declinations

Derived forms codeclinationdeclinational

Related forms decline

Etymology

From Middle English declinacioun, borrowed from Middle French declination, from Latin declinatio. Doublet of declension.

*ḱley- Proto-Indo-European declinacioun Middle English declination Middle French declinatio Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Space, Position & Direction Places & Geography Word Formation & Derivatives

# declination

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** ˌdɛklɪˈneɪʃən
**Frequency rank:** 79135

## Meanings
1. A polite refusal of an offer or invitation.
2. A downward slope or bend.
3. In astronomy, how far north or south a star or planet is from the celestial equator.

## Examples
- We received his declination of the invitation with regret.
- The slight declination of his head signalled his agreement.
- The star's declination tells astronomers its position in the sky.

## Derived Forms
- codeclination
- declinational

## Related Forms
- decline

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *ḱley-
- Root: declinacioun
- Root: declination
- Root: declinatio

## Etymology
From Middle English declinacioun, borrowed from Middle French declination, from Latin declinatio. Doublet of declension.

## AI Etymology
Declination is from Middle English declinacioun, borrowed from Middle French declination, from Latin declinatio. Doublet of declension. Important recorded forms include *ḱley- (Proto-Indo-European), declinacioun (Middle English), declination (Middle French), and declinatio (Latin). Current senses include a polite refusal of an offer or invitation and a downward slope or bend. The wider family includes derived forms such as codeclination and declinational; related words such as decline.

## Topics
- Space, Position & Direction
- Places & Geography
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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