Part 2822

<blockquote>After the first <b>declining</b> of a noun and a verb. <i>Ascham.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>To run through from first to last; to repeat like a schoolboy declining a noun.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<i>Shak.</i>

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

<hw>De*cline"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>d\'82clin</ets>. See <er>Decline</er>, <tt>v. i.</tt>]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>A falling off; a tendency to a worse state; diminution or decay; deterioration; also, the period when a thing is tending toward extinction or a less perfect state; <as>as, the <ex>decline</ex> of life; the <ex>decline</ex> of strength; the <ex>decline</ex> of virtue and religion.</as></def>

<blockquote>Their fathers lived in the <b>decline</b> of literature. <i>Swift.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Med.)</fld> <def>That period of a disorder or paroxysm when the symptoms begin to abate in violence; <as>as, the <ex>decline</ex> of a fever</as>.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>A gradual sinking and wasting away of the physical faculties; any wasting disease, esp. pulmonary consumption; <as>as, to die of a <ex>decline</ex></as>.</def>

<i>Dunglison.</i>

<syn>Syn. -- <er>Decline</er>, <er>Decay</er>, <er>Consumption</er>.</syn> <usage> <i>Decline</i> marks the first stage in a downward progress; <i>decay</i> indicates the second stage, and denotes a tendency to ultimate destruction; <i>consumption</i> marks a steady decay from an internal exhaustion of strength. The health may experience a <i>decline</i> from various causes at any period of life; it is naturally subject to <i>decay</i> with the advance of old age; <i>consumption</i> may take place at almost any period of life, from disease which wears out the constitution. In popular language <i>decline</i> is often used as synonymous with <i>consumption</i>. By a gradual <i>decline</i>, states and communities lose their strength and vigor; by progressive <i>decay</i>, they are stripped of their honor, stability, and greatness; by a <i>consumption</i> of their resources and vital energy, they are led rapidly on to a completion of their existence.</usage>

<h1>Declined</h1> <Xpage=377>

<hw>De*clined"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Declinate.</def>

<h1>Decliner</h1> <Xpage=377>

<hw>De*clin"er</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>He who declines or rejects.</def>

<blockquote>A studious <b>decliner</b> of honors. <i>Evelyn.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Declinometer</h1> <Xpage=377>

<hw>Dec`li*nom"e*ter</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[<ets>Decline</ets> + <ets>-meter</ets>.]</ety> <fld>(Physics)</fld> <def>An instrument for measuring the declination of the magnetic needle.</def>

<h1>Declinous</h1> <Xpage=377>

<hw>De*clin"ous</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Declinate.</def>

<h1>Declivitous, Declivous</h1> <Xpage=377>

<hw><hw>De*cliv"i*tous</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <hw>De*cli"vous</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>,<hw> <tt>a.</tt> <def>Descending gradually; moderately steep; sloping; downhill.</def>

<h1>Declivity</h1> <Xpage=377>

<hw>De*cliv"i*ty</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Declivities</plw> <tt>(#)</tt></plu>. <ety>[L. <ets>declivitas</ets>, fr. <ets>declivis</ets> sloping, downhill; <ets>de</ets> + <ets>clivus</ets> a slope, a hill; akin to <ets>clinare</ets> to incline: cf. F. <ets>d\'82clivit\'82</ets>. See <er>Decline</er>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>Deviation from a horizontal line; gradual descent of surface; inclination downward; slope; -- opposed to <i>acclivity</i>, or ascent; the same slope, considered as <i>descending</i>, being a <i>declivity</i>, which, considered as <i>ascending</i>, is an <i>acclivity</i>.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A descending surface; a sloping place.</def>

<blockquote>Commodious <b>declivities</b> and channels for the passage of the waters. <i>Derham.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Decoct</h1> <Xpage=377>