declination

C2 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˌdɛklɪˈneɪʃən/ See IPA manual

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

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

magnetic declination
the angle between the directions of magnetic north and true north at a location

Adjective + noun

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

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# 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
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

markdown