[dec.li.na.tion] n [ME declinacioun, fr. MF declination, fr. L declination-, declinatio angle of the heavens, turning aside] (14c) 1: angular distance north or south from the celestial equator measured along a great circle passing through the celestial poles
2: a turning aside or swerving
3: deterioration "moral ~"
4: a bending downward: inclination
5: a formal refusal
6: the angle formed between a magnetic needle and the geographical meridian -- dec.li.na.tion.al adj