declension
n.
(Grammar) variation of the form (of a noun, verb, etc.); decline, descent, slope
Declension
In
linguistics, declension (or declination) is the
inflection of
nouns,
pronouns and
adjectives to indicate such features as
number (typically singular vs. plural),
case (
subject,
object, and so on), or
gender. Declension occurs in a great many of the world's languages, and features very prominently in many
Indo-European languages, but is much less prominent in
English; English nouns only decline to distinguish singular from plural (e.g. book vs. books), English adjectives do not decline at all, and only a few English pronouns show vestiges of case-triggered declension (e.g. subjective he vs. objective him).
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Declension
(n.)
The form of the inflection of a word declined by cases; as, the first or the second declension of nouns, adjectives, etc.
(n.)
The act or the state of declining; declination; descent; slope.
(n.)
Rehearsing a word as declined.
(n.)
Inflection of nouns, adjectives, etc., according to the grammatical cases.
(n.)
Act of courteously refusing; act of declining; a declinature; refusal; as, the declension of a nomination.
(n.)
A falling off towards a worse state; a downward tendency; deterioration; decay; as, the declension of virtue, of science, of a state, etc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), edited by Noah Porter.
About
declension
Noun
1. the inflection of nouns and pronouns and adjectives in Indo-European languages
(hypernym) inflection, inflexion
(member-meronym) noun
(derivation) decline
2. process of changing to an inferior state
(synonym) deterioration, decline in quality, worsening
(hypernym) decline, diminution
(hyponym) slump, slack, drop-off, falloff, falling off
(derivation) worsen, decline
3. a downward slope or bend
(synonym) descent, declivity, fall, decline, declination, downslope
(hypernym) slope, incline, side
(hyponym) downhill
(derivation) decline
4. a class of nouns or pronouns or adjectives in Indo-European languages having the same (or very similar) inflectional forms; "the first declension in Latin"
(hypernym) class, category, family
(derivation) decline