Declination word meaning and definition

[noun] a polite refusal of an invitation
[noun] a downward slope or bend
[noun] (astronomy) the angular distance to a point on a celestial object measured north or south from the celestial equator; expressed in degrees; used with right ascension to specify positions on the celestial sphere
[noun] a condition inferior to an earlier condition; a gradual falling off from a better state

\Dec`li*na"tion\, n. [L. declinatio a bending aside, an avoiding: cf. F. d['e]clination a decadence. See {Declension}.] 1. The act or state of bending downward; inclination; as, declination of the head. 2. The act or state of falling off or declining from excellence or perfection; deterioration; decay; decline. ``The declination of monarchy.'' --Bacon. Summer . . . is not looked on as a time Of declination or decay. --Waller. 3. The act of deviating or turning aside; oblique motion; obliquity; withdrawal. The declination of atoms in their descent. --Bentley. Every declination and violation of the rules. --South. 4. The act or state of declining or refusing; withdrawal; refusal; averseness. The queen's declination from marriage. --Stow. 5. (Astron.) The angular distance of any object from the celestial equator, either northward or southward. 6. (Dialing) The arc of the horizon, contained between the vertical plane and the prime vertical circle, if reckoned from the east or west, or between the meridian and the plane, reckoned from the north or south. 7. (Gram.) The act of inflecting a word; declension. See {Decline}, v. t., 4. {Angle of declination}, the angle made by a descending line, or plane, with a horizontal plane. {Circle of declination}, a circle parallel to the celestial equator. {Declination compass} (Physics), a compass arranged for finding the declination of the magnetic needle. {Declination of the compass} or {needle}, the horizontal angle which the magnetic needle makes with the true north-and-south line.

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