Declining

Examples

• It is hard in the stationary, and miserable in the declining state. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
• In the mean time Keimer's credit and business declining daily, he was at last forced to sell his printing-house to satisfy his creditors. Benjamin Franklin. Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin.
• I thought he meant to try his skill, by his manner of declining it yesterday. Jane Austen. Emma.
• In an age when religious faith was declining, we find men displaying a new and vivid belief in the reality of these personifications. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
• If you give those names to my thanking you for your proposal and declining it, is it my fault, Mr Headstone? Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
• The worst excuse a soldier can make for declining service is that he once ranked the commander he is ordered to report to. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
• It ended in my flatly declining to mention the subject to Laura, unless she first approached it of her own accord. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
• Raymond had been exalted by the determination he had made; but with the declining day his spirits declined. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
• I sent up a message at once, declining to disturb them, and only begging to know whether I could be of any use. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
• Mr. Winkle looked up at the declining orb and painfully thought of the probability of his 'going down' himself, before long. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
• We were seldom shaded from the declining sun, whose slant beams were instinct with exhausting heat. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
• Thou dost think, I warrant, that thou hast lost somewhat of our regard, by thy boldly declining this unpleasing task--But no, Maurice! Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
• The declining sun lighted brilliantly the eastern banks of Korus, the crimson sward, the gorgeous forest. Edgar Rice Burroughs. The Gods of Mars.
• She requested them to be seated; and declining to take a seat herself, at once anticipated any introduction of their business. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
• Here's the original,' said Jackson, declining the required explanation. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
• In the Peace of Paris (1763) the French gave England Canada, and relinquished Louisiana to the inert hands of declining Spain. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
• But the day was declining and she had no time to lose. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
• Yes; Jane says she is sure they will; but yet, this is such a situation as she cannot feel herself justified in declining. Jane Austen. Emma.
• Unhappily, declining fast. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
• The news was sent by wire to Washington, and Mr. Wright sent his message declining the honor over the telegraph. Rupert S. Holland. Historic Inventions.
• But my godmother wrote a stiff letter declining for me, and I never went. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
• The morning found her afoot again, but fast declining as to the clearness of her thoughts, though not as to the steadiness of her purpose. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
• He took very little supper, but was a long time over it, and often reverted to his brother's declining state. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
• Old familiar declining and falling off the Rooshan? Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
• Mr Boffin, declining rum, being still elevated on his pedestal, was in a convenient position to be addressed. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
• The declining years of his life were full of sorrow, pain and affliction, and at his death in 1860 his estate was $200,000 in debt. Edward W. Byrn. The Progress of Invention in the Nineteenth Century.
• Porter had gone to his assistance with a part of his fleet on the 3d, and I now wrote to him describing my position and declining to send any troops. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
• There will be enough of them, in all probability, to supply every sort of sensation that declining life can need. Jane Austen. Emma.

Editor: Timmy