Middle English Dictionary Entry
dēclīn n.
Entry Info
| Forms | dēclīn n. |
| Etymology | OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
The setting of one of the heavenly bodies.
Associated quotations
- c1450(?a1405) Lydg.CBK (Frf 16)642 : O glad sterre!..Er that thy bemes go vp to declyne, And er that thou now go fro vs adovne.
- a1500(?a1400) Firumb.(2) (Fil)78 : The day ys passyd, the sonne ys at declyne.
- a1500 Lydg.LOL (Adv 19.3.1)p.103 : They kept hor tymes..to wayte the upryst..Of this sterre..To schew hys lyght yn euery schowre and schade Withowt westryng or drawyng to declyne.
2.
Drawing back, escape.
Associated quotations
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.2805 : He was on hym enviroun al beset..For þer was nouþer socour nor declyn; Þus was Pirrus brouȝt vn-to his fyn.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.2767 : Amyd the se [he] lefft hir in an ile; Toward no parti she knew no declyn.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)13563 : I koude make no declyn, So euere in On the cruel swyn Me drowh out off the hihe way.
3.
(a) Deterioration, degeneration; comen in ~, gon to ~, to deteriorate; drauen unto ~, be brought low; putten in ~, overcome (sb.), overthrow (sb.); (b) misfortune, mishap.
Associated quotations
a
- a1350 Lord þat lenest (Hrl 2253)25 : Such a ioustynde gyn vch wrecche wol weren, al hit comeþ in declyn, þis gigelotes geren.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.893 : And how her renoun and her hiȝe fame Was of hatrede sodeynly made lame; And how her honour drowe vn-to decline.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2904 : The hegh noblesse shal drawe to declyne.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)1993 : Thow seest wel, age hath put me to declyne.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)3116 : Al the worlde gooth to declyn, And ys peruerted with Satourne.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)206 : She [death] thinketh to mowe thi lyfe and putte it al in declyn [F metre la tout a declin], and sithe in hire coffyne thi bodi she wole putte.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)3447 : I leue no thyng in on estat, But make eche thyng, by declyn, ffor to drawe to hys ffyn.
- a1500 Add.Hymnal (Add 34193)447/10 : Thys worldis covrs almost consumede is, Tymes mevyng swyftly to declyne.
b
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)9863 : The Sowdan hurt was som dele; That kyng Cursolot aspyed wele, And glad ys he of his declyne.