Decline — A Vocabulary Story
The Kite Seller of Barmouth Beach
The wind off Barmouth Beach was sharp enough to sting Mina's ears, but she pressed on towards the small striped stall where Andre sold his handmade kites. She had saved for six weeks.
"One dragon kite, please," she said, holding out a crumpled note.
Andre counted carefully, then shook his head. "I'm afraid I have to decline this. It's only half the price, love."
Decline means to become smaller, weaker, or lower (decrease), or to politely refuse an offer or invitation.
Mina's shoulders sank. "But the sign said three pounds last summer."
"Prices don't decline, sadly. They climb, like gulls." Andre smiled gently. "Tell you what. I've a kite here with a torn tail. Most customers decline it, but if you can mend it, it's yours for what you've got."
Mina examined the rip. Her dad was a sailmaker in Aberystwyth; she had watched him stitch canvas a hundred times. She did not decline the offer.
At home that evening, she threaded red cotton through the nylon, refusing to let her stitches decline into a tangle. By morning the tail was stronger than new.
Back on the sand, the dragon climbed so high that two boys asked where she'd bought it. When she told them, one wrinkled his nose and said he'd decline a mended kite any day.
Mina only laughed, letting the string hum between her fingers as the dragon danced above the Welsh coast.
Word Definition
decline
meaning
to become smaller, weaker, or lower (decrease), or to politely refuse an offer or invitation
synonyms
decrease · diminish · reduce · refuse · reject
antonyms
increase · rise · grow · accept
example sentence
The company's profits continued to decline.