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declinar

to decline

verb deh-klee-NAHR Rare

Also means

to decay

Usage Note

Declinar has two distinct senses: to decline an invitation or offer (formal, equivalent to rechazar or rehusar) and to wane or deteriorate (su salud declina 'his health is declining'). In grammar it also means to decline (inflect) a noun. The word is a formal register choice; in casual speech bajar or empeorar are used for the deterioration sense.

Examples

"Declinó la invitación con amabilidad."

Natural Translation

She declined the invitation politely.

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