declination

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A refusal.

   the queen's declination from marriage

2. 2
   noun

   The act or state of bending downward; inclination.

   declination of the head

3. 3
   noun

   The act or state of falling off or declining from excellence or perfection; deterioration; decay; decline.

   the declination of monarchy

4. 4
   noun

   Deviation.

   this declination of atoms in their descent

5. 5
   noun

   a polite refusal of an invitation

6. 6
   noun

   (astronomy) the angular distance of a celestial body north or to the south of the celestial equator

7. 7
   noun

   a downward slope or bend

8. 8
   noun

   a condition inferior to an earlier condition

Etymology

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