DECLINATION

declination, regrets

(noun) a polite refusal of an invitation

declination, celestial latitude, dec

(noun) (astronomy) the angular distance of a celestial body north or to the south of the celestial equator; expressed in degrees; used with right ascension to specify positions on the celestial sphere

descent, declivity, fall, decline, declination, declension, downslope

(noun) a downward slope or bend

decline, declination

(noun) a condition inferior to an earlier condition; a gradual falling off from a better state

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

declination (countable and uncountable, plural declinations)

At a given point, the angle between magnetic north and true north.

At a given point, the angle between the line connecting this point with the geographical center of the earth and the equatorial plane.

A refusal.

(grammar, obsolete) Declension.

(archaic) The act or state of bending downward; inclination.

(archaic) The act or state of falling off or declining from excellence or perfection; deterioration; decay; decline.

(archaic) Deviation.

Anagrams

• nonciliated

Source: Wiktionary

Dec`li*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. declinatio a bending aside, an avoiding: cf. F. déclination 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.)

Definition: The angular distance of any object from the celestial equator, either northward or southward.

6. (Dialing)

Definition: 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.)

Definition: 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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition