| 释义 |
declension|dɪˈklɛnʃən|
[Represents L. dēclīnātiōn-em (n. of action f. dēclīnāre to decline), F. déclinaison (13th c.). The form is irregular, and its history obscure: possibly it came from the F. word, by shifting of the stress as in comparison, orison, benison, and loss of ĭ, as in venĭson, ven'son, giving declin'son (cf. 1565 in 4), with subsequent assimilative changes; the grammatical sense was the earliest, and the word had no doubt a long colloquial existence in the grammar schools before the English form appears in print. Cf. conster.]
I.
1. The action or state of declining, or deviating from a vertical or horizontal position; slope, inclination; a declining or sinking into a lower position, as of the sun towards setting; the dip of the magnetic needle (= declination 8 a). ? Obs.
1640–4Ld. Finch in Rushw. Hist. Coll. iii. (1692) I. 13 To make us steer between the Tropicks of Moderation, that there be no declension from the Pole of Security. a1659Osborn Q. Eliz. Epist. D d iv b, The ignorant Traveller may see by the Dial, the Time is in a declension. 1684–90T. Burnet Th. Earth (J.), Allow as much for the declension of the land from that place to the sea. 1764Grainger Sugar Cane i. iii. note, The declension of the needle was discovered a.d. 1492 by Columbus. 1799W. Tooke View Russ. Emp. I. 67 The northern part..has a sensible declension towards the White Sea. 1802–3tr. Pallas' Trav. (1812) II. 201 This elevated ridge extends, with gradual declensions..towards the sea.
2. fig. Deviation or declining from a standard; falling away (from one's allegiance), apostasy.
1594Shakes. Rich. III, iii. vii. 189 A Beautie-waining..Widow..Seduc'd the pitch, and height of his degree, To base declension, and loath'd Bigamie. 1647Clarendon Hist. Reb. vii. (1843) 432/1 A declension from his own rules of life. c1665Mrs. Hutchinson Mem. Col. Hutchinson (1846) 336 All their prudent declensions saved not the lives of some nor the estates of others. 1814Cary Dante, Parad. iv. 69 That..is argument for faith, and not For heretic declension. 1881W. R. Smith Old Test. in Jew. Ch. xii. 344 The declensions of Israel had not checked the outward zeal with which Jehovah was worshipped.
3. The process or state of declining, or sinking into a lower or inferior condition; gradual diminution, deterioration, or decay; falling off, decline.
1602Shakes. Ham. ii. ii. 149 He..Fell into a Sadnesse..thence into a Weaknesse, Thence to a Lightnesse, and by this declension Into the Madnesse whereon now he raues. 1660Jer. Taylor Worthy Commun. ii. §1. 115 In the greatest declension of Religion. 1677Govt. Venice Ep. Ded. 1 The State of Venice is at this day in its declension. 1734tr. Rollin's Anc. Hist. (1827) I. Pref. 1 The causes of their declension and fall. 1874Maurice Friendship Bks. ii. 55 Symptoms of declension or decay.
b. Sunken or fallen condition.
1642Jer. Taylor Episc. (1647) 214 It hath..come to so low a declension, as it can scarce stand alone. 1734tr. Rollin's Anc. Hist. (1827) VII. xvii. 345 Till Sparta sunk to her last declension. 1776Adam Smith W.N. i. xi. I. 213 The declension of Spain is not, perhaps, so great as is commonly imagined.
II.
4. Gram. a. The variation of the form of a noun, adjective, or pronoun, constituting its different cases (see case n.1 9); case-inflexion. b. Each of the classes into which the nouns of any language are grouped according to their inflexions. c. The action of declining, i.e. setting forth in order the different cases of, a noun, adjective, or pronoun.
1565–78Cooper Thesaurus Introd., Substantives may be perceyved by their gender and declenson. 1569J. Sandford tr. Agrippa's Van. Artes 10 Rules of Declensions. 1598Shakes. Merry W. iv. i. 76 Show me now (William) some declensions of your Pronounes. 1612Brinsley Lud. Lit. 58 The seueral terminations of euery case in euery Declension. 1640G. Watts tr. Bacon's Adv. Learn. vi. i. (R.), Ancient languages were more full of declensions, cases, conjugations, tenses, and the like. 1845Stoddart in Encycl. Metrop. 187/1 Those inflections, which grammarians call declensions and conjugations. 1871Roby Lat. Gram. I. 113 §334 The ordinary division of nouns substantive was into five declensions. Ibid. 116 §344 Ordinary declension of -o stems.
†d. Formerly, in a wider sense: Change of the form or of the ending of a word, as in derivation. (Cf. note under case n.1 9.) Obs. rare. [So L. declinatio in early use.]
1678Cudworth Intell. Syst. 524 The God..was called not Bellum but Bellona..not Cuna but Cunina..At other times, this was done without any Declension of the Word at all.
III. 5. The action of declining; courteous refusal, declinature. rare.
1817Byron Let. to Murray 21 Aug., You want a ‘civil..declension’ for the..tragedy? 1886Echo 13 Nov. 3/1 Prince Waldemar's declension. |