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declivity - 4 dictionary results

de⋅cliv⋅i⋅ty

[di-kliv-i-tee]
–noun, plural -ties.
a downward slope, as of ground (opposed to acclivity ).

Origin:
1605–15; < L of dēclīvitās a slope, hill, equiv. to dēclīvi(s) sloping downward (dē- de- + clīv(us) slope, hill + -is adj. suffix) + -tās -ty
de·cliv·i·ty   (dĭ-klĭv'ĭ-tē)   
n.   pl. de·cliv·i·ties
A downward slope, as of a hill.

[Latin dēclīvitās, from dēclīvis, sloping down : dē-, de- + clīvus, slope; see klei- in Indo-European roots.]

Declivity

De*cliv"i*ty\, n.; pl. Declivities. [L. declivitas, fr. declivis sloping, downhill; de + clivus a slope, a hill; akin to clinare to incline: cf. F. d['e]clivit['e]. See Decline.]

1. Deviation from a horizontal line; gradual descent of surface; inclination downward; slope; -- opposed to acclivity, or ascent; the same slope, considered as descending, being a declivity, which, considered as ascending, is an acclivity.

2. A descending surface; a sloping place.

Commodious declivities and channels for the passage of the waters. --Derham.

declivity 
1612, from L. declivitatem (nom. declivitas), from declivis "a sloping downward," from de- "down" + clivus "a slope," from PIE *klei-wo-, suffixed form of *klei "to lean" (see lean (v.)).
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