declivity

[ dih-kliv-i-tee ]

noun

, plural de·cliv·i·ties.

1. a downward slope, as of ground ( acclivity ).

declivity

/ dɪˈklɪvɪtɪ /

noun

1. a downward slope, esp of the ground Compare acclivity

Derived Forms

• deˈclivitous, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of declivity¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin dēclīvitās “a slope, hill,” equivalent to dēclīvi(s) “sloping downward” ( dē- prefix indicating downward motion + clīv(us) “slope, hill” + -is adjective suffix) + -tās noun suffix; de-, -ty ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of declivity¹

C17: from Latin dēclīvitās, from de- + clīvus a slope, hill

Example Sentences

Now we were east of the trail, meandering across a treeless declivity with no obvious route at our feet.

From New York Times

Fires in the region often start in this steep and inaccessible declivity, served by a single main road that meanders alongside the water.

From The Guardian

These were mounted on a metal armature, and the result was a white cube, with a few enigmatic protrusions and a curious declivity capturing the negative space of the fireplace.

From Washington Post

Within a week I’d developed night sweats that caused pools of water to collect in the declivity above my collarbone, and left my hair greasy at the scalp.

From The Guardian

Later, I had screeched to a halt at the lip of a sharp declivity and, unable to find a foothold, simply timberrrrrrrrred into the sagebrush.

From New York Times