decline English · revision 5515

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1325|origins=la clīnāre}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /dɪˈklaɪn/, /dəˈklaɪn/, US /dɪˈklaɪn/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The verb is [[inh|enm|declinen]], [[bor|fro|decliner|t=to turn aside, sink]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la|dēclīnāre|t=to bend, turn aside, inflect]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|la|dē-|t=from]] and [[m|la|clīnāre|t=to bend]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[ine-pro|*klei-|t=to lean]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[lean]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021) The noun is Old French declin, from the verb.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The noun, a sinking into a weaker or worse condition: before 1325 in Barnhart, before 1327 in the OED.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) The verb, to turn aside or deviate, is from about 1325 in the OED and before 1376, in Piers Plowman, in Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The grammatical sense, to inflect a noun or adjective, is from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) Because de- was read as “downward”, the sense shifted: to bend or slope down is from before 1420 in Barnhart and about 1400 in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) To refuse politely is from about 1631 in Barnhart, the 1630s in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) As a noun, the later years of life, short for ''decline of life'', is from 1711,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and a wasting disease such as tuberculosis from 1783.^(OED 1989) A fall in prices is from 1885.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1325 – the noun, a falling off.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 14th century – to inflect in grammar.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1400 – to slope down.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1631 – to refuse politely.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1783 – a wasting disease.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To politely [[refuse]] something.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To become smaller, fewer or less; to [[diminish]].^(Collins 2023)

+ # To become gradually worse in quality or health.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To slope or bend downward.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(grammar)'' To give the forms of a noun, pronoun or adjective for [[case]] and number.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A gradual fall in amount, quality or strength.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[declinable]]

+ * [[decliner]]

+ * [[declinist]]

+ * [[declinometer]]

+ * [[undeclined]]

+ * [[redecline]]

+ * [[undeclining]]

+ * [[declension]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[climate]]

+ * [[cline]]

+ * [[declivity]]

+ * [[incline]]

+ * [[recline]]

+ * [[declination]]

+ * [[lean]]

+ * [[clinic]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In Scottish, Irish and northern English dialect a decline was consumption, tuberculosis.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}