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Synonyms
de·cline (dĭ-klīń)

[Middle English declinen, from Old French decliner, from Latin dēclīnāre, to turn away, bend downward, change the form of a word, dē-, de-, + -clīnāre, to lean, bend.]

verb: -clined, -clin·ing, -clines. 

intransitive verb 

  1. To express polite refusal.
    1. To slope downward; descend.
    2. To bend downward; droop.
  3. To degrade or lower oneself; condescend.
  4. To deteriorate gradually; fail.
    1. To sink, as the setting sun.
    2. To draw to a gradual close; wane.

transitive verb 

  1. To refuse politely: I declined their offer of help. See synonyms at refuse1
  2. To cause to slope or bend downward.
  3. Grammar To inflect (a noun, a pronoun, or an adjective) for number and case.

noun 

  1. The process or result of declining, especially a gradual deterioration.
  2. A downward movement.
  3. The period when something approaches an end.
  4. A downward slope; a declivity.
  5. A disease that gradually weakens or wastes the body.

derivatives

de·clińa·ble
adjective
de·clińer
noun