acclivity

American  

[uh-kliv-i-tee] / əˈklɪv ɪ ti /

noun

• acclivities
  plural

1. an upward slope, as of ground; an ascent (opposed to declivity).

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acclivity British  

/ əˈklɪvɪtɪ /

noun

1. an upward slope, esp of the ground Compare declivity

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• acclivitous
  adjective
• acclivous
  adjective
• unacclivitous
  adjective
• unacclivitously
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• acclivities
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of acclivity

1605–15; < Latin acclīvitās, equivalent to acclīv ( is ) steep ( ac- ac- + -clīvis, adj. derivative of clīvus slope) + -itās -ity

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Explanation

An acclivity might be something to dread if you ride a bike a lot. An acclivity is an uphill slope, so you’ll have to pedal a little harder to get to the top. The word acclivity traces back to the Latin word acclivis, meaning “ascending,” which is a combination of ad-, meaning “toward,” and clivus, meaning “slope.” If you encounter an acclivity, it’s going to be all uphill until you get to the top. The opposite of an acclivity is a declivity, which has a similar Latin origin. In the case of declivity, it’s the de- prefix, meaning “down,” that moves things in the opposite direction and gives it the meaning of “downhill slope.”

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

acclivity acclivities

Here and there, as the horses go more slowly up a gentle acclivity, you turn round to reconnoitre a little, and find that there is a charming view behind.

From Notable Women Authors of the Day Biographical Sketches by Helen C. Black

Passing through a toll-gate I ascended an acclivity, from the top of which I obtained p. 604a full view of the castle, looking stern, dark, and majestic. 

From Wild Wales The People, Laguage & Scenery by George Henry Borrow

It extends about 2 m. along the river bank, occupying a slight acclivity which reaches its summit at Windmill Hill, whence extensive views are obtained of the river, with its windings and shipping.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 4 "Grasshopper" to "Greek Language" by Various

From the ridge of this acclivity we could watch the cloud shadows, violet and purple, sweeping over wide moors, and by their subtle contrasts bringing out the soft shimmering of the distant sunlight.

From The Further Adventures of O'Neill in Holland by J. Irwin Brown

The road running up the steep acclivity was of no great width—nothing resembling the broad macadamised “turnpike” of modern times.

From The White Gauntlet by Mayne Reid

The eastern sides of the ridges present a succession of wall-sided precipices, having beneath them shelving acclivities formed by debris, and exhibiting on their faces regular lines of stratification.

From Narrative of a Second Expedition to the Shores of the Polar Sea by John Franklin

Their road lay around the head of St. Inigoe's creek, and soon became entangled in dark, woody ravines and steep acclivities which presented, at this hour, no small interruption to their progress.

From Rob of the Bowl, Vol. I (of 2) A Legend of St. Inigoe's by John P. Kennedy

The moat is filled up, and, with the acclivities of the ramparts, is made a public walk and garden.

From England, Picturesque and Descriptive A Reminiscence of Foreign Travel by Joel Cook

Observing the rapid growth and hardy nature of the Larch, he determined to cover with it the steep acclivities of mountains of greater altitude than any that had yet been tried.

From Forest Life and Forest Trees: comprising winter camp-life among the loggers, and wild-wood adventure. with Descriptions of lumbering operations on the various rivers of Maine and New Brunswick by John S. Springer

Up the narrow acclivities leading to these mesa crests the Mokis must bring all provisions, all water, their ponies and donkeys.

From Through Our Unknown Southwest by Agnes C. (Agnes Christina) Laut

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