Declined

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Decline \De*cline"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Declined}; p. pr. &
     vb. n. {Declining}.] [OE. declinen to bend down, lower, sink,
     decline (a noun), F. d['e]cliner to decline, refuse, fr. L.
     declinare to turn aside, inflect (a part of speech), avoid;
     de- + clinare to incline; akin to E. lean. See {Lean}, v. i.]
     1. To bend, or lean downward; to take a downward direction;


        to bend over or hang down, as from weakness, weariness,
        despondency, etc.; to condescend. "With declining head."
        --Shak.
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              He . . . would decline even to the lowest of his
              family.                               --Lady
                                                    Hutchinson.
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              Disdaining to decline,
              Slowly he falls, amidst triumphant cries. --Byron.
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              The ground at length became broken and declined
              rapidly.                              --Sir W.
                                                    Scott.
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     2. To tend or draw towards a close, decay, or extinction; to
        tend to a less perfect state; to become diminished or
        impaired; to fail; to sink; to diminish; to lessen; as,
        the day declines; virtue declines; religion declines;
        business declines.
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              That empire must decline
              Whose chief support and sinews are of coin.
                                                    --Waller.
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              And presume to know . . .
              Who thrives, and who declines.        --Shak.
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     3. To turn or bend aside; to deviate; to stray; to withdraw;
        as, a line that declines from straightness; conduct that
        declines from sound morals.
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              Yet do I not decline from thy testimonies. --Ps.
                                                    cxix. 157.
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     4. To turn away; to shun; to refuse; -- the opposite of
        accept or consent; as, he declined, upon principle.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Declined \De*clined"\, a.
     Declinate.
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