declination

What it means

1. countableuncountableAt a given point, the angle between magnetic north and true north.

   Synonyms: magnetic declination

2. countableuncountableastronomyAt a given point, the angle between the line connecting this point with the geographical center of the earth and the equatorial plane.

   Synonyms: δ

3. countableuncountableA refusal.

   the queen's declination from marriage

   1746, Arthur Collins, Letters And Memorials Of State In the Reigns of Queen Mary

   Synonyms: nonassent, denial, rejection, abnegation, denial, turndown, disapproval, dissension

In a sentence

the queen's declination from marriage

1746, Arthur Collins, Letters And Memorials Of State In the Reigns of Queen Mary

Where it comes from

1. Latindeclinatio
2. Middle Frenchdeclination
3. Middle Englishdeclinacioun
4. Englishdeclination

From Middle English declinacioun, borrowed from Middle French declination, from Latin declinatio. Doublet of declension.