■ verb
1》 become smaller, fewer, or less; decrease.
↘diminish in strength or quality; deteriorate.
2》 politely refuse: the company ~d to comment.
3》 (especially of the sun) move downwards.
4》 Grammar state the forms of (a noun, pronoun, or adjective) corresponding to cases, number, and gender.
■ noun
1》 a continuous loss of strength, numbers, or value.
2》 archaic a disease in which the bodily strength gradually fails, especially tuberculosis.
Derivatives
declinable adjective
~r noun
declining adjective
Origin
ME: from OFr. ~r , from L. declinare 'bend down, turn aside', from de- 'down' + clinare 'to bend'.