declivity

[Fr. déclivité, from Lat. declivi tatem, acc us. of declivitas =a declivity, a slope; declivis inclining downward: de =away, down, and clivus a slope.] 1. An inclination, slope, or gradual descent of the surface of the ground; the same inclination of the ground is, when regarded from the bottom upward, an acclivity (q. v.), and, when regarded from the top downward, a declivity. "Nor soft declivities with tufted hills, Nor view of waters turning busy mills." Cowper: Retirement , 333, 334. 2. An inclination, fall, or descent. is so called from the swiftne of its current: and that swiftne [is] occasioned by the declivity of its course."-Walton: Angler , pt. ii., ch. i. dě-cliv-oŭs, a. [Lat. declivus =sloping downward.] Declivitous, sloping. dě-coct', v. t. [Lat. decoct us, pa. par. of decoquo =to boil down: de down (intens.), and coquo to cook.] I. Lit .: To prepare by boiling or by digesting in hot water. "The longer malt or herbs are decocted in liquor, the clearer it is." -Bacon . IMG:content-1957.png:[blocks in formation]