declension
(dɪˈklɛnʃən)
[Represents L. dēclīnātiōn-em (n. of action f. dēclīnāre to decline), F. déclinaison (13th c.). The form is irregular, and its history obscure: possibly it came from the F. word, by shifting of the stress as in comparison, orison, benison, and loss of ĭ, as in venĭson, ven'son, giving declin'son (cf. 1565 in 4), with subsequent assimilative changes; the grammatical sense was the earliest, and the word had no doubt a long colloquial existence in the grammar schools before the English form appears in print. Cf. conster.]
I. 1. The action or state of declining, or deviating from a vertical or horizontal position; slope, inclination; a declining or sinking into a lower position, as of the sun towards setting; the dip of the magnetic needle (= declination 8 a). ? Obs.
| 1640–4 Ld. Finch in Rushw. Hist. Coll. iii. (1692) I. 13 To make us steer between the Tropicks of Moderation, that there be no declension from the Pole of Security. a 1659 Osborn Q. Eliz. Epist. D d iv b, The ignorant Traveller may see by the Dial, the Time is in a declension. 1684–90 T. Burnet Th. Earth (J.), Allow as much for the declension of the land from that place to the sea. 1764 Grainger Sugar Cane i. iii. note, The declension of the needle was discovered a.d. 1492 by Columbus. 1799 W. Tooke View Russ. Emp. I. 67 The northern part..has a sensible declension towards the White Sea. 1802–3 tr. Pallas' Trav. (1812) II. 201 This elevated ridge extends, with gradual declensions..towards the sea. |
2. fig. Deviation or declining from a standard; falling away (from one's allegiance), apostasy.
| 1594 Shakes. Rich. III, iii. vii. 189 A Beautie-waining..Widow..Seduc'd the pitch, and height of his degree, To base declension, and loath'd Bigamie. 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. vii. (1843) 432/1 A declension from his own rules of life. c 1665 Mrs. Hutchinson Mem. Col. Hutchinson (1846) 336 All their prudent declensions saved not the lives of some nor the estates of others. 1814 Cary Dante, Parad. iv. 69 That..is argument for faith, and not For heretic declension. 1881 W. R. Smith Old Test. in Jew. Ch. xii. 344 The declensions of Israel had not checked the outward zeal with which Jehovah was worshipped. |
3. The process or state of declining, or sinking into a lower or inferior condition; gradual diminution, deterioration, or decay; falling off, decline.
| 1602 Shakes. Ham. ii. ii. 149 He..Fell into a Sadnesse..thence into a Weaknesse, Thence to a Lightnesse, and by this declension Into the Madnesse whereon now he raues. 1660 Jer. Taylor Worthy Commun. ii. §1. 115 In the greatest declension of Religion. 1677 Govt. Venice Ep. Ded. 1 The State of Venice is at this day in its declension. 1734 tr. Rollin's Anc. Hist. (1827) I. Pref. 1 The causes of their declension and fall. 1874 Maurice Friendship Bks. ii. 55 Symptoms of declension or decay. |
b. Sunken or fallen condition.
| 1642 Jer. Taylor Episc. (1647) 214 It hath..come to so low a declension, as it can scarce stand alone. 1734 tr. Rollin's Anc. Hist. (1827) VII. xvii. 345 Till Sparta sunk to her last declension. 1776 Adam Smith W.N. i. xi. I. 213 The declension of Spain is not, perhaps, so great as is commonly imagined. |
II. 4. Gram. a. The variation of the form of a noun, adjective, or pronoun, constituting its different cases (see case n.1 9); case-inflexion. b. Each of the classes into which the nouns of any language are grouped according to their inflexions. c. The action of declining, i.e. setting forth in order the different cases of, a noun, adjective, or pronoun.
| 1565–78 Cooper Thesaurus Introd., Substantives may be perceyved by their gender and declenson. 1569 J. Sandford tr. Agrippa's Van. Artes 10 Rules of Declensions. 1598 Shakes. Merry W. iv. i. 76 Show me now (William) some declensions of your Pronounes. 1612 Brinsley Lud. Lit. 58 The seueral terminations of euery case in euery Declension. 1640 G. Watts tr. Bacon's Adv. Learn. vi. i. (R.), Ancient languages were more full of declensions, cases, conjugations, tenses, and the like. 1845 Stoddart in Encycl. Metrop. 187/1 Those inflections, which grammarians call declensions and conjugations. 1871 Roby Lat. Gram. I. 113 §334 The ordinary division of nouns substantive was into five declensions. Ibid. 116 §344 Ordinary declension of -o stems. |
† d. Formerly, in a wider sense: Change of the form or of the ending of a word, as in derivation. (Cf. note under case n.1 9.) Obs. rare. [So L. declinatio in early use.]
| 1678 Cudworth Intell. Syst. 524 The God..was called not Bellum but Bellona..not Cuna but Cunina..At other times, this was done without any Declension of the Word at all. |
III. 5. The action of declining; courteous refusal, declinature. rare.
| 1817 Byron Let. to Murray 21 Aug., You want a ‘civil..declension’ for the..tragedy? 1886 Echo 13 Nov. 3/1 Prince Waldemar's declension. |