downhill, n., adv., and a.
(see below)
A. n. (ˈdaʊnhɪl). [f. down adv.]
1. The downward slope of a hill; a decline, declivity, descent (lit. and fig.).
| 1591 Sylvester Du Bartas i. ii. 39 Th' Icie down-Hils of this slippery Life. 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1658) 107 Some on horseback, other on foot, follow the cry..neither fearing thornes, woods, down-hils. 1795 Burke Regic. Peace iv. Wks. IX. 119 It is not possible that the downhill should not be slid into. 1853 W. Jerdan Autobiog. III. xiv. 207 To cheer and solace the downhill of life. |
† 2. slang. (pl.) False dice which run on the low numbers. Obs.
| a 1700 B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Down-hills, Dice that run low. 1801 Sporting Mag. XVIII. 100. |
3. In Skiing: a downhill race.
| 1960 Times 22 Jan. 16/3 The British women's ski running championships began here to-day with the downhill. |
B. adv. (daʊnˈhɪl). [f. down prep.] Down the slope of a hill; in a descending direction; on a decline; down-wards (lit. and fig.).
| 1659 Burton's Diary (1828) IV. 348 Whether it be up-hill or down-hill. 1719 De Foe Crusoe i. xiv, A very short cut, and all down-hill. 1795 Ld. Auckland Corr. (1862) III. 313 They are going downhill..a well-concerted opposition will end the business. 1871 Smiles Charac. i. (1876) 17 They broke through the French and sent them flying downhill. |
C. adj. (ˈdaʊnhɪl). Sloping or descending downwards; declining. (Also fig.)
| 1727 Pope, etc. Art of Sinking 71 The gentle down-hill way to the bathos. a 1729 Congreve (J.), A downhill greensward. 1782 Cowper Lett. 11 Nov., The down-hill side of life. 1856 Froude Hist. Eng. II. 408 The monks had travelled swiftly on the downhill road of human corruption. |