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declension
[ dih-klen-shuhn ]
/ dɪˈklɛn ʃən /
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noun
Grammar.
- the inflection of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives for categories such as case and number.
- the whole set of inflected forms of such a word, or the recital thereof in a fixed order.
- a class of such words having similar sets of inflected forms: the Latin second declension.
an act or instance of declining.
a bending, sloping, or moving downward: land with a gentle declension toward the sea.
deterioration; decline.
deviation, as from a standard.
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Origin of declension
1400–50; late Middle English declenson, declynson (with suffix later assimilated to -sion), by stress retraction and syncope <Old French declinaison<Latin dēclīnātiōdeclination
Words nearby declension
declarer, declare war on, declass, déclassé, declassify, declension, declensional, declinable, declinate, declination, declinatory
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use declension in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for declension
declension
/ (dɪˈklɛnʃən) /
noun
grammar
- inflection of nouns, pronouns, or adjectives for case, number, and gender
- the complete set of the inflections of such a word"puella" is a first-declension noun in Latin
a decline or deviation from a standard, belief, etc
a downward slope or bend
Derived forms of declension
declensional, adjectivedeclensionally, adverbWord Origin for declension
C15: from Latin dēclīnātiō, literally: a bending aside, hence variation, inflection; see decline
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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