myEtymology.com: English etymology of declension

Etymology of the English word declension

the English word declension

derived from the Old French word declinaison

derived from the Latin word declinatio (declination, relative sky angle; latitude; turning aside, swerve; avoidance)

derived from the Latin word declinatus (inflection, manner of inflecting, declining)

derived from the Latin word declinare (avoid, stray; vary; decline, conjugate, inflect; deflect, divert, turnaside)

using the Late Latin prefix de-

derived from the Latin word de (away; down)

derived from the Latin word clinare (incline, slope; bend)

derived from the Greek word klinein, κλίνω

derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *klei-

The earliest known usage of declension in English dates from the 15th century.

Word found in Modern English