dēclīnō āvī, ātus, āre CLI-, to bend aside, turn away: ad dexteram de viā: si omnes atomi declinabunt (i. e. oblique ferentur): via ad mare declinans, L.

—To deflect, turn away: agmen, L.: cursūs, O.

—To avoid, evade, shun: urbem: ictum, L.

—To lower, close, let sink: dulci lumina somno, V.

— Fig., to turn aside, deviate, turn away, digress: de statu suo: a religione offici: aliquantulum a proposito: ut eo revocetur unde huc declinavit oratio: quantum in Italiam declinaverat belli, L.: paulatim amor, decreases, O.

—To turn aside, cause to differ: mulier declinata ab aliarum ingenio, differing, T.

—To turn off, ascribe: adversa in inscitiam Paeti, Ta.

— To turn from, avoid, shun: (oratio) declinat impetum: laqueos iudici: vitia: societate culpae invidiam, Ta.