declinatory, a. and n.
(dɪˈklaɪnətərɪ)
[ad. med.L. dēclīnātōri-us (f. ppl. stem dēclīnāt- of dēclīnāre: see -ory), in the legal expression exceptio dēclīnātōria, in F. exception déclinatoire. French has also the n. use (1381 in Hatzf.).]
A. adj. That declines (sense 13); expressing refusal. declinatory plea (Law): a plea intended to show that the party was exempt from the jurisdiction of the court, or from the penalty of the law; abolished in 1826.
| 1673 Marvell Corr. ccxi. Wks. 1872–5 II. 412 Return an answer..in a civill but declinatory way. 1769 Blackstone Comm. IV. 327 Formerly..the benefit of clergy used to be pleaded before trial or conviction, and was called a declinatory plea. 1848 Wharton Law Lex., Declinatory plea, a plea of sanctuary, also pleading benefit of clergy before trial or conviction. |
B. n.
1. Law. A declinatory plea.
| a 1693 Urquhart Rabelais iii. xxxix. 326 Declinatories [Fr. declinatoires], Anticipatories. a 1734 North Lives (1826) I. 342 They had a declinatory of course: viz..‘That matters of Parliament were too high for them’. |
† 2. Dialling. = declinator1 2. Obs.
| 1703 Moxon Mech. Exerc. 311 If the Situation of the Plane be not given, you must seek it..the readiest and easiest [way] is by an Instrument called a Declinatory. 1727–51 [see declinator1 2]. |