declension

/dɪˈklenʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˈklenʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /di-ˈklen(t)-shən/ (ame, mw)

declension — 名詞

  • declensionsingular
  • declensionsplural

1. In grammar, a set of nouns, pronouns, or adjectives that all follow the same pat

1.名詞B2
釋義

詞形變化類

同一變化規則的名詞/形容詞組

In grammar, a set of nouns, pronouns, or adjectives that all follow the same pattern when their endings change to show case (such as subject or object), number (singular or plural), or gender.

例句

In Latin, most feminine nouns belong to the first declension and share the same case endings.

在拉丁文中，大多數陰性名詞屬於第一詞形變化類，共享同一組格尾綴。

belong to the first / second / third declension — typical structure

The teacher asked the students to memorise the endings for the third declension by Friday.

老師要求學生在星期五前背好第三詞形變化類的結尾。

同義詞
  • inflection class

    more general term; works for any language, while 'declension' is specific to nouns, pronouns, and adjectives

  • paradigm

    refers to the full set of forms of one word, not the group of words that share a pattern

用法筆記

Often paired with ordinal numbers (first declension, second declension) to name specific inflection classes in languages such as Latin, Greek, German, and Russian.

常見錯誤

❌The first declension decline nouns with -a endings.
✅In the first declension, nouns end in -a in the nominative singular.
💡'declension' is a noun that names a class; 'decline' is the verb for the action.

2. The system or act of changing a noun, pronoun, or adjective form according to it

2.名詞B2
釋義

詞形變化

依語法功能改變詞尾的系統

The system or act of changing a noun, pronoun, or adjective form according to its grammatical role in a sentence — for example, altering the ending from a subject form to an object form.

例句

The declension of the Latin word 'puella' produces six different forms, one for each grammatical case.

拉丁文單字 'puella' 的詞形變化會產生六種不同的形式，對應每一個語法格。

declension of + [word] — refers to the full set of forms for one item

In her grammar workbook, Mei studied the declension of Russian nouns by writing out all six case forms.

Mei 在她的文法練習本中，透過寫出全部六個格的形式來學習俄文名詞的詞形變化。

同義詞
  • inflection

    broader term covering verbs (conjugation) and nouns (declension), and also including changes like tense marking

  • paradigm

    the complete table of forms for one word; 'declension' more often refers to the system itself

用法筆記

Uncountable when referring to the process or system in general ('Noun declension is part of the grammar'). Countable when referring to the set of forms of one word ('the declension of this noun').

常見錯誤

❌I am learning the declension of English.
✅I am learning the declension of Latin nouns.
💡English has very little noun inflection, so 'declension' rarely applies to it in this sense.

3. A formal term used in medical contexts for the gradual worsening of a patient's

3.名詞C1
釋義

病情惡化

疾病或健康狀況逐漸變差

A formal term used in medical contexts for the gradual worsening of a patient's health or the progressive advance of a disease over a period of time.

例句

The doctor noted a steady declension in the patient's kidney function over the past six months.

醫生注意到過去六個月來病人的腎功能持續惡化。

declension in + [bodily function/condition] — typical medical pattern

Despite the new medication, the declension of Mrs. Yoshida's lung condition continued with no sign of improvement.

儘管使用了新藥物，Yoshida 太太的肺部病情仍然持續惡化，沒有任何好轉的跡象。

同義詞
  • deterioration

    the standard everyday word; 'declension' is far more formal and restricted to medical writing

  • decline

    broader and more natural than 'declension' for describing a patient's worsening state

反義詞
  • improvement

    opposite direction — the patient's condition getting better

  • remission

    a temporary or permanent decrease in disease severity

用法筆記

Far less common in everyday English than synonyms like 'deterioration' or 'decline'. Almost exclusively found in formal medical notes, journal articles, or case reports.