Emily Dickinson Lexicon

DEC-LIN-A'TOR, or DE-CLIN'A-TO-RY, n.

An instrument for taking the declination, or inclination of a plane; an instrument in dialing. – Encyc. Chambers. Declinatory plea, in law, a plea before trial or conviction, intended to show that the party was not liable to the penalty of the law, or was specially exempted from the jurisdiction of the court. The plea of benefit of clergy is a declinatory plea. – Blackstone.