dē-clīvis, e (nom. n. declivum, Cassiod. in Psal. 16, 5; neutr. plur. once heterocl. decliva, Ov. M. 2, 206; also declivia, id. ib. 1, 39 et saep.; cf. acclivis and aplustre), adj. [clivus], inclining downwards, sloping (for syn. cf.: devexus, praeruptas, abruptus, abscisus, proclivis, acclivis, propensus, praeceps, pronus.—Class. and freq., esp. in histt. and poets; perh. not in Cic. and Verg.).
I Prop.: collis ab summo aequaliter declivis ad flumen Sabim, sloping regularly , Caes. B. G. 2, 18: in declivi et praecipiti loco, id. ib. 4, 33, 3: iniquo loco et leviter declivi, id. ib. 7, 83, 2; cf.: locus tenui fastigio vergebat, id. B. C. 1, 45, 5: locus, also vallis, and opp. mons, id. ib. 1, 79, 2: latitudo, quem locum Catabathmon incolae appellant, Sall. J. 17, 4: Olympi, Ov. M. 6, 487: arvum Aesulae, Hor. Od. 3, 29, 7: ripa, Ov. F. 3, 13; id. M. 5, 591; 6, 399: flumina, id. ib. 1, 39; cf.: cursus (amnium), Luc. 4, 114: via, Ov. M. 4, 432; 7, 410 et saep.: sol in occasum, Plin. 8, 50, 76, § 203. —
B Subst.: declive , is, n., a declivity : ut de locis superioribus haec declivia et devexa cernebantur, Caes. B. G. 7, 88: si per declive sese reciperent, id. B. C. 3, 51, 6; cf.: erat per declive receptus, id. ib. 3, 45, 4; Ov. M. 2, 206.—
II Trop.: labitur occiduae per iter declive senectae, id. ib. 15, 227; cf.: mulier aetate declivis, in the decline of life , Plin. Ep. 8, 18, 8; Arn. 2, p. 74: animae in vitia, prone , Arn. 2, 45.— Comp. perh. only: dies ad occasum declivior, Vulg. Judic. 19, 9.— Sup. does not occur.—Adv.: dēclīvĭter , in a sloping manner , only in Comp. : declivius: incumbens rupes, Cassiod. Hist. Eccl. 12, 9.