From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Decline \De*cline"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Declined}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Declining}.] [OE. declinen to bend down, lower, sink,
decline (a noun), F. d['e]cliner 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.
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He . . . would decline even to the lowest of his
family. --Lady
Hutchinson.
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Disdaining to decline,
Slowly he falls, amidst triumphant cries. --Byron.
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The ground at length became broken and declined
rapidly. --Sir W.
Scott.
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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.
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That empire must decline
Whose chief support and sinews are of coin.
--Waller.
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And presume to know . . .
Who thrives, and who declines. --Shak.
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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.
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Yet do I not decline from thy testimonies. --Ps.
cxix. 157.
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4. To turn away; to shun; to refuse; -- the opposite of
accept or consent; as, he declined, upon principle.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Declined \De*clined"\, a.
Declinate.
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