declivity

American  

[dih-kliv-i-tee] / dɪˈklɪv ɪ ti /

noun

plural

declivities

1. a downward slope, as of ground (opposed to acclivity).

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declivity British  

/ dɪˈklɪvɪtɪ /

noun

1. a downward slope, esp of the ground Compare acclivity

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Other Word Forms

• declivitous adjective

Etymology

Origin of declivity

First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin dēclīvitās “a slope, hill,” equivalent to dēclīvi(s) “sloping downward” ( dē- prefix indicating downward motion + clīv(us) “slope, hill” + -is adjective suffix) + -tās noun suffix; see de-, -ty ²

Explanation

If you're standing at the top of a hill looking down to the bottom, you're staring down a declivity, a downward slope of any kind. The word declivity comes from the Latin words de, which means "down," and clivus, which means "slope." If you're at the bottom of the hill looking up, you'll see the opposite of a declivity. From that position you'll be looking at an acclivity, an upward slope.

Example Sentences

Now we were east of the trail, meandering across a treeless declivity with no obvious route at our feet.

From New York Times • Apr. 20, 2022

Fires in the region often start in this steep and inaccessible declivity, served by a single main road that meanders alongside the water.

From The Guardian • May 5, 2020

A sharp declivity separated the rear of the patrol from those farther up the hill.

From New York Times • Feb. 1, 2012

In 1905, pilgrims carrying everything on their backs had assembled it near a declivity used for Christian worship since about the 11th century, and possibly for ritual murder long before that.

From Washington Post

Siddhartha wandered along a strange, twisted path of this last and most base declivity through the game of dice.

From "Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse