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

decline \decline"\, v. i. imp.  p. p. declined; p. pr. 
   vb. n. declining. oe. declinen to bend down, lower, sink,
   decline a noun, f. d'ecliner 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.
      1913 webster

            he . . . would decline even to the lowest of his
            family.                               --lady
                                                  hutchinson.
      1913 webster

            disdaining to decline,
            slowly he falls, amidst triumphant cries. --byron.
      1913 webster

            the ground at length became broken and declined
            rapidly.                              --sir w.
                                                  scott.
      1913 webster

   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.
      1913 webster

            that empire must decline
            whose chief support and sinews are of coin.
                                                  --waller.
      1913 webster

            and presume to know . . .
            who thrives, and who declines.        --shak.
      1913 webster

   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.
      1913 webster

            yet do i not decline from thy testimonies. --ps.
                                                  cxix. 157.
      1913 webster

   4. to turn away; to shun; to refuse; -- the opposite of
      accept or consent; as, he declined, upon principle.
      1913 webster
see also:
declined declining lean 

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

declined \declined"\, a.
   declinate.
   1913 webster

Declined >> D Words
Declined, definition of term: Declined
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