— declinational , adj.
/dek'leuh nay"sheuhn/ , n.
1. a bending, sloping, or moving downward.
2. deterioration; decline.
3. a swerving or deviating, as from a standard.
4. a polite refusal.
5. Astron. the angular distance of a heavenly body from the celestial equator, measured on the great circle passing through the celestial pole and the body.
6. variation (def. 8).
7. the formal refusal by a nominee of a nomination to public office.
[ 1350-1400; ME declinacioun declinacion declination- (s. of declinatio ), equiv. to declinat ( us ), lit., turned aside (ptp. of declinare; see DECLINE, -ATE 1 ) + -ion- -ION ]