Part 2821

<cs><col>Declinatory plea</col> <fld>(O. Eng. Law)</fld>, <cd>the plea of sanctuary or of benefit of clergy, before trial or conviction; -- now abolished.</cd></cs>

<h1>Declinature</h1> <Xpage=377>

<hw>De*clin"a*ture</hw> <tt>(?; 135)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The act of declining or refusing; <as>as, the <ex>declinature</ex> of an office</as>.</def>

<h1>Decline</h1> <Xpage=377>

<hw>De*cline"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Declined</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Declining</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OE. <ets>declinen</ets> to bend down, lower, sink, decline (a noun), F. <ets>d\'82cliner</ets> to decline, refuse, fr. L. <ets>declinare</ets> to turn aside, inflect (a part of speech), avoid; <ets>de-</ets> + <ets>clinare</ets> to incline; akin to E. <ets>lean</ets>. See <er>Lean</er>, <tt>v. i.</tt>]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>To bend, or lean downward; to take a downward direction; to bend over or hang down, as from weakness, weariness, despondency, etc.; to condescend.</def> "With <i>declining</i> head."

<i>Shak.</i>

<blockquote>He . . . would <b>decline</b> even to the lowest of his family. <i>Lady Hutchinson.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Disdaining to <b>decline</b>, Slowly he falls, amidst triumphant cries. <i>Byron.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>The ground at length became broken and <b>declined</b> rapidly. <i>Sir W. Scott.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To tend or draw towards a close, decay, or extinction; to tend to a less perfect state; to become diminished or impaired; to fail; to sink; to diminish; to lessen; <as>as, the day <ex>declines</ex>; virtue <ex>declines</ex>; religion <ex>declines</ex>; business <ex>declines</ex>.</as></def>

<blockquote>That empire must <b>decline</b> Whose chief support and sinews are of coin. <i>Waller.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>And presume to know . . . Who thrives, and who <b>declines</b>. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To turn or bend aside; to deviate; to stray; to withdraw; <as>as, a line that <ex>declines</ex> from straightness; conduct that <ex>declines</ex> from sound morals.</as></def>

<blockquote>Yet do I not <b>decline</b> from thy testimonies. <i>Ps. cxix. 157.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>To turn away; to shun; to refuse; -- the opposite of <i>accept</i> or <i>consent</i>; <as>as, he <ex>declined</ex>, upon principle</as>.</def>

<h1>Decline</h1> <Xpage=377>

<hw>De*cline"</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>To bend downward; to bring down; to depress; to cause to bend, or fall.</def>

<blockquote>In melancholy deep, with head <b>declined</b>. <i>Thomson.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>And now fair Phoebus gan <b>decline</b> in haste His weary wagon to the western vale. <i>Spenser.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To cause to decrease or diminish.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark> "You have <i>declined</i> his means."

<i>Beau. & Fl.</i>

<blockquote>He knoweth his error, but will not seek to <b>decline</b> it. <i>Burton.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To put or turn aside; to turn off or away from; to refuse to undertake or comply with; reject; to shun; to avoid; <as>as, to <ex>decline</ex> an offer; to <ex>decline</ex> a contest; he <ex>declined</ex> any participation with them.</as></def>

<blockquote>Could I <b>Decline</b> this dreadful hour? <i>Massinger.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <fld>(Gram.)</fld> <def>To inflect, or rehearse in order the changes of grammatical form of; <as>as, to <ex>decline</ex> a noun or an adjective</as>.</def>

<note>&hand; Now restricted to such words as have case inflections; but formerly it was applied both to declension and conjugation.</note>