declensionn.

/dɪˈklɛnʃən/

Forms: Also Middle English declenson.

Etymology: Represents Latin dēclīnātiōn-em (noun of action < dēclīnāre to decline v.), French déclinaison (13th cent.). The form is irregular, and its history obscure: possibly it came from the French word, by shifting of the stress as in comparison , orison , benison , and loss of ĭ , as in venĭson , ven'son , giving declin'son (compare 1565-78 at sense 4c), 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. Compare construe v.

I. Declination, slope, and related uses.

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 n. 8(a)). ? Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > direction > [noun] > direction with respect to that of another > deviation from vertical or horizontal

declination1594

declension1640

inclination1799

the world > space > relative position > inclination > [noun] > inclination from the level or slope > downwards

fall1538

downwith1593

declining1601

devexity1601

devex1627

declension1640

proneness1686

dip1708

versant1859

1640–4 Ld. Finch in J. Rushworth Hist. Coll.: Third Pt. (1692) I. 13 To make us steer between the Tropicks of Moderation, that there be no declension from the Pole of Security.

a1659 F. Osborne Mem. Reigns Elizabeth & James Epist. D d iv b The ignorant Traveller may see by the Dial, the Time is in a declension.

1684 T. Burnet Theory of Earth i. ii. 11 Allow as much for the declension of the Land from that place to the Sea.

1764 J. Grainger Sugar-cane i. 13 (note) The declension of the needle was discovered, A.D. 1492, by Columbus.

1799 W. Tooke View Russ. Empire I. 67 The northern part..has a sensible declension towards the White Sea.

1803 F. W. Blagdon tr. P. S. Pallas Trav. Southern Provinces Russ. Empire II. 201 This elevated ridge extends, with gradual declensions [Ger. mit stufenweisem Abfalle]..towards the sea.

2. figurative. Deviation or declining from a standard; falling away (from one's allegiance), apostasy.

ΘΚΠ

society > morality > moral evil > moral or spiritual degeneration > [noun]

degeneration?1481

declining1526

declination1533

depravation1561

villainy1564

declension1597

depravedness1623

decadency1632

degenerateness1640

depravity1643

depravement1645

degradation1663

degeneracy1664

degenerousness1678

marasmus1681

debasednessa1720

decadencea1734

demoralization1797

downgrade1857

decadentism1949

the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > undutifulness > dereliction of duty > [noun]

defaulta1250

fail1297

declining1526

defection1532

declination1533

defect1540

delinquishment1593

declension1597

secession1601

delinquency1606

delinquence1613

deliquity1682

dereliction1778

derelictness1888

the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > reversal of or forsaking one's will or purpose > [noun]

reversec1487

retraction1536

relent1580

declension1597

relentance1629

resentment1646

intercision1647

relenting1694

back-down1862

backing-down1883

back-pedalling1950

step-down1973

the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > reversal of or forsaking one's will or purpose > [noun] > desertion of one's party or principles

recreandisea1425

declining1526

declination1533

back-turning1535

defect1540

revoltc1576

falling off1577

apostasy1578

tergiversation1583

declension1597

recreancy1602

starting1602

recreantness1611

recession1614

turncoating1624

recreancea1632

diffidation1640

withdrawment1640

tergiversating1654

turning1665

ratting1789

renegadism1823

turncoatery1841

defection1884

turncoatism1889

1597 W. Shakespeare Richard III iii. vii. 179 A beauty-waining..widow..Seduct the pitch and height of al his thoughts, To base declension and loathd bigamie.

c1665 L. Hutchinson Mem. Col. Hutchinson (1973) 190 All their prudent declensions sav'd not the lives of some nor the estates of others.

1703 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion II. vii. 273 A declension from his own rules of life.

1814 H. F. Cary tr. Dante Vision III. iv. 69 That..is argument for faith, and not For heretic declension.

1881 W. R. Smith Old Test. in Jewish Church xii. 344 The declensions of Israel had not checked the outward zeal with which Jehovah was worshipped.

a. The process or state of declining, or sinking into a lower or inferior condition; gradual diminution, deterioration, or decay; falling off, decline.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > adversity > [noun] > fall from prosperous or thriving condition

rureOE

ebbingc1200

fallc1225

declinea1327

downfallingc1330

downfalla1400

fall of mana1400

wanea1400

ruinc1405

wrack1426

inclinationc1450

declination1533

labefactation1535

ebb1555

falling off1577

declining1581

inclining1590

declension1604

downset1608

neck-breaka1658

overseta1658

lapsing1665

reducement1667

lapse1680

labefaction1792

downshift1839

subsidence1839

downgrade1857

downturn1858

downslide1889

downswing1922

turn-down1957

tail-off1975

1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet ii. ii. 150 He..Fell into a sadnes..thence into a weakenes, Thence to a lightnes, and by this declension, Into the madnes wherein now he raues.

1660 Bp. J. Taylor Worthy Communicant ii. §1. 115 In the greatest declension of Religion.

1677 tr. A.-N. Amelot de La Houssaie Hist. Govt. Venice Ep. Ded. 1 The State of Venice is at this day in its declension.

1734 tr. C. Rollin Anc. Hist. II. 111 The causes of the declension and ruin of the great Persian empire.

1874 F. D. Maurice Friendship Bks. ii. 55 Symptoms of declension or decay.

b. Sunken or fallen condition.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > adversity > [noun] > fall from prosperous or thriving condition > fallen condition

ruina1393

rot1581

declension1642

declinedness1648

downwardness1650

decayedness1702

decline1705

blast1795

1642 Bp. J. Taylor Of Sacred Order Episcopacy (1647) 214 It hath..come to so low a declension, as it can scarce stand alone.

1740 tr. C. Rollin Anc. Hist. (ed. 2) VII. 395 Till Sparta sunk to her last declension.

1776 A. Smith Inq. Wealth of Nations I. i. xi. 253 The declension of Spain is not, perhaps, so great as is commonly imagined.

II. Grammatical uses.

4. Grammar.

Thesaurus »

Categories »

a. The variation of the form of a noun, adjective, or pronoun, constituting its different cases (see case n.¹ 1); inflection for case.

Thesaurus »

Categories »

b. Each of the classes into which the nouns of any language are grouped according to their inflections.

c. The action of declining, i.e. setting forth in order the different cases of, a noun, adjective, or pronoun.

ΚΠ

c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 81 Clenzon or declenson, declinacio.

1565–78 T. Cooper Thesaurus Introd. Substantives may be perceyved by their gender and declenson.

1569 J. Sanford tr. H. C. Agrippa Of Vanitie Artes & Sci. 10 Rules of Declensions.

1612 J. Brinsley Ludus Lit. vi. 58 The seueral terminations of euery case in euery Declension.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor (1623) iv. i. 68 Shew me now (William) some declensions of your Pronounes.

1640 G. Watts tr. F. Bacon Of Advancem. Learning vi. i. 262 Ancient Languages were more full of Declensions; Cases; Conjugations; Tenses, and the like.

1845 J. Stoddart in Encycl. Metrop. 187/1 Those inflections, which grammarians call declensions and conjugations.

1871 H. J. Roby Gram. Latin Lang. I. 113 §334 The ordinary division of nouns substantive was into five declensions.

1871 H. J. Roby Gram. Latin Lang. I. 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 1) Obsolete. rare. [So Latin declinatio in early use.]

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > morphology > word-formation > [noun] > derivation

derivation1530

declension1678

zero derivation1960

1678 R. Cudworth tr. St. Augustine in True Intellect. Syst. Universe i. iv. 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. Refusal.

5. The action of declining; courteous refusal, declinature. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > statement > refusal > [noun] > courteous refusal

declining1607

declination1618

declinement1680

declension1817

declinal1837

declinature1850

1817 Ld. Byron Let. 21 Aug. (1976) V. 258 You want a ‘civil and delicate declension’ for the..tragedy?

1886 Echo 13 Nov. 3/1 Prince Waldemar's declension.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1894; most recently modified version published online September 2021).

单词	declension
释义	declensionn. /dɪˈklɛnʃən/ Forms: Also Middle English declenson. Etymology: Represents Latin dēclīnātiōn-em (noun of action < dēclīnāre to decline v.), French déclinaison (13th cent.). The form is irregular, and its history obscure: possibly it came from the French word, by shifting of the stress as in comparison , orison , benison , and loss of ĭ , as in venĭson , ven'son , giving declin'son (compare 1565-78 at sense 4c), 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. Compare construe v. I. Declination, slope, and related uses. 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 n. 8(a)). ? Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > space > direction > [noun] > direction with respect to that of another > deviation from vertical or horizontal declination1594 declension1640 inclination1799 the world > space > relative position > inclination > [noun] > inclination from the level or slope > downwards fall1538 downwith1593 declining1601 devexity1601 devex1627 declension1640 proneness1686 dip1708 versant1859 1640–4 Ld. Finch in J. Rushworth Hist. Coll.: Third Pt. (1692) I. 13 To make us steer between the Tropicks of Moderation, that there be no declension from the Pole of Security. a1659 F. Osborne Mem. Reigns Elizabeth & James Epist. D d iv b The ignorant Traveller may see by the Dial, the Time is in a declension. 1684 T. Burnet Theory of Earth i. ii. 11 Allow as much for the declension of the Land from that place to the Sea. 1764 J. Grainger Sugar-cane i. 13 (note) The declension of the needle was discovered, A.D. 1492, by Columbus. 1799 W. Tooke View Russ. Empire I. 67 The northern part..has a sensible declension towards the White Sea. 1803 F. W. Blagdon tr. P. S. Pallas Trav. Southern Provinces Russ. Empire II. 201 This elevated ridge extends, with gradual declensions [Ger. mit stufenweisem Abfalle]..towards the sea. 2. figurative. Deviation or declining from a standard; falling away (from one's allegiance), apostasy. ΘΚΠ society > morality > moral evil > moral or spiritual degeneration > [noun] degeneration?1481 declining1526 declination1533 depravation1561 villainy1564 declension1597 depravedness1623 decadency1632 degenerateness1640 depravity1643 depravement1645 degradation1663 degeneracy1664 degenerousness1678 marasmus1681 debasednessa1720 decadencea1734 demoralization1797 downgrade1857 decadentism1949 the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > undutifulness > dereliction of duty > [noun] defaulta1250 fail1297 declining1526 defection1532 declination1533 defect1540 delinquishment1593 declension1597 secession1601 delinquency1606 delinquence1613 deliquity1682 dereliction1778 derelictness1888 the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > reversal of or forsaking one's will or purpose > [noun] reversec1487 retraction1536 relent1580 declension1597 relentance1629 resentment1646 intercision1647 relenting1694 back-down1862 backing-down1883 back-pedalling1950 step-down1973 the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > reversal of or forsaking one's will or purpose > [noun] > desertion of one's party or principles recreandisea1425 declining1526 declination1533 back-turning1535 defect1540 revoltc1576 falling off1577 apostasy1578 tergiversation1583 declension1597 recreancy1602 starting1602 recreantness1611 recession1614 turncoating1624 recreancea1632 diffidation1640 withdrawment1640 tergiversating1654 turning1665 ratting1789 renegadism1823 turncoatery1841 defection1884 turncoatism1889 1597 W. Shakespeare Richard III iii. vii. 179 A beauty-waining..widow..Seduct the pitch and height of al his thoughts, To base declension and loathd bigamie. View more context for this quotation c1665 L. Hutchinson Mem. Col. Hutchinson (1973) 190 All their prudent declensions sav'd not the lives of some nor the estates of others. 1703 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion II. vii. 273 A declension from his own rules of life. 1814 H. F. Cary tr. Dante Vision III. iv. 69 That..is argument for faith, and not For heretic declension. 1881 W. R. Smith Old Test. in Jewish Church xii. 344 The declensions of Israel had not checked the outward zeal with which Jehovah was worshipped. 3. a. The process or state of declining, or sinking into a lower or inferior condition; gradual diminution, deterioration, or decay; falling off, decline. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > adversity > [noun] > fall from prosperous or thriving condition rureOE ebbingc1200 fallc1225 declinea1327 downfallingc1330 downfalla1400 fall of mana1400 wanea1400 ruinc1405 wrack1426 inclinationc1450 declination1533 labefactation1535 ebb1555 falling off1577 declining1581 inclining1590 declension1604 downset1608 neck-breaka1658 overseta1658 lapsing1665 reducement1667 lapse1680 labefaction1792 downshift1839 subsidence1839 downgrade1857 downturn1858 downslide1889 downswing1922 turn-down1957 tail-off1975 1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet ii. ii. 150 He..Fell into a sadnes..thence into a weakenes, Thence to a lightnes, and by this declension, Into the madnes wherein now he raues. View more context for this quotation 1660 Bp. J. Taylor Worthy Communicant ii. §1. 115 In the greatest declension of Religion. 1677 tr. A.-N. Amelot de La Houssaie Hist. Govt. Venice Ep. Ded. 1 The State of Venice is at this day in its declension. 1734 tr. C. Rollin Anc. Hist. II. 111 The causes of the declension and ruin of the great Persian empire. 1874 F. D. Maurice Friendship Bks. ii. 55 Symptoms of declension or decay. b. Sunken or fallen condition. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > adversity > [noun] > fall from prosperous or thriving condition > fallen condition ruina1393 rot1581 declension1642 declinedness1648 downwardness1650 decayedness1702 decline1705 blast1795 1642 Bp. J. Taylor Of Sacred Order Episcopacy (1647) 214 It hath..come to so low a declension, as it can scarce stand alone. 1740 tr. C. Rollin Anc. Hist. (ed. 2) VII. 395 Till Sparta sunk to her last declension. 1776 A. Smith Inq. Wealth of Nations I. i. xi. 253 The declension of Spain is not, perhaps, so great as is commonly imagined. View more context for this quotation II. Grammatical uses. 4. Grammar. Thesaurus » Categories » a. The variation of the form of a noun, adjective, or pronoun, constituting its different cases (see case n.¹ 1); inflection for case. Thesaurus » Categories » b. Each of the classes into which the nouns of any language are grouped according to their inflections. c. The action of declining, i.e. setting forth in order the different cases of, a noun, adjective, or pronoun. ΚΠ c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 81 Clenzon or declenson, declinacio. 1565–78 T. Cooper Thesaurus Introd. Substantives may be perceyved by their gender and declenson. 1569 J. Sanford tr. H. C. Agrippa Of Vanitie Artes & Sci. 10 Rules of Declensions. 1612 J. Brinsley Ludus Lit. vi. 58 The seueral terminations of euery case in euery Declension. a1616 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor (1623) iv. i. 68 Shew me now (William) some declensions of your Pronounes. View more context for this quotation 1640 G. Watts tr. F. Bacon Of Advancem. Learning vi. i. 262 Ancient Languages were more full of Declensions; Cases; Conjugations; Tenses, and the like. 1845 J. Stoddart in Encycl. Metrop. 187/1 Those inflections, which grammarians call declensions and conjugations. 1871 H. J. Roby Gram. Latin Lang. I. 113 §334 The ordinary division of nouns substantive was into five declensions. 1871 H. J. Roby Gram. Latin Lang. I. 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 1) Obsolete. rare. [So Latin declinatio in early use.] ΘΚΠ the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > morphology > word-formation > [noun] > derivation derivation1530 declension1678 zero derivation1960 1678 R. Cudworth tr. St. Augustine in True Intellect. Syst. Universe i. iv. 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. Refusal. 5. The action of declining; courteous refusal, declinature. rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > statement > refusal > [noun] > courteous refusal declining1607 declination1618 declinement1680 declension1817 declinal1837 declinature1850 1817 Ld. Byron Let. 21 Aug. (1976) V. 258 You want a ‘civil and delicate declension’ for the..tragedy? 1886 Echo 13 Nov. 3/1 Prince Waldemar's declension. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1894; most recently modified version published online September 2021). < n.c1440
随便看	moledraining moleearth moleeyed molegrains molegrey molehead moleheap molehill molehillish molehillock molehills molehilly molehole molehunt molehunter molehunting moleism molelike molemarked molen molendarious molendinaceous molendinar molendinaries molendinarious