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| de·cline [ di kln ] |
verb (past and past participle de·clined, present participle de·clin·ing, 3rd person present singular de·clines) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb refuse invitation: to give a polite refusal to an invitation
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2. intransitive verb refuse participation: to refuse to respond or take part in something
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3. intransitive verb diminish: to decrease in number, amount, value, or quality
  stocks declining in value
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4. intransitive verb get weaker: to become physically or mentally less vigorous, especially because of illness or advancing years
His health had declined.
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5. transitive verb grammar list various forms: to state the grammatical forms of a noun, adjective, or pronoun
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6. intransitive verb grammar have inflections: to exist in various inflected forms according to number,case, or gender
(
refers to a noun, adjective, or pronoun
)
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7. intransitive verb slope down: to bend something downward, or slope downward
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noun (plural de·clines) |
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| Definition: |
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1. deterioration or reduction: a decrease in number, amount, value, or quality
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2. period near end: the terminal period of somebody or something, ending in death or disappearance
at the decline of the empire
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3. downward slope: a downward slope or movement
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| [14th century. Directly or via French< Latin declinare "turn aside, bend away" < clinare "bend"] |
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| de·clin·er noun |
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be on the decline
1. to show a gradual decrease in number, amount, value, or quality
2. to show a gradual worsening of health
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