\Dec`la*ra"tion\, n. [F. d['e]claration, fr. L.
declaratio, fr. declarare. See {Declare}.]
1. The act of declaring, or publicly announcing; explicit
   asserting; undisguised token of a ground or side taken on
   any subject; proclamation; exposition; as, the declaration
   of an opinion; a declaration of war, etc.
2. That which is declared or proclaimed; announcement;
   distinct statement; formal expression; avowal.
         Declarations of mercy and love . . . in the Gospel.
                                               --Tillotson.
3. The document or instrument containing such statement or
   proclamation; as, the Declaration of Independence (now
   preserved in Washington).
         In 1776 the Americans laid before Europe that noble
         Declaration, which ought to be hung up in the
         nursery of every king, and blazoned on the porch of
         every royal palace.                   --Buckle.
4. (Law) That part of the process in which the plaintiff sets
   forth in order and at large his cause of complaint; the
   narration of the plaintiff's case containing the count, or
   counts. See {Count}, n., 3.
{Declaration of Independence}. (Amer. Hist.) See under
   {Independence}.
{Declaration of rights}. (Eng. Hist) See {Bill of rights},
   under {Bill}.
{Declaration of trust} (Law), a paper subscribed by a grantee
   of property, acknowledging that he holds it in trust for
   the purposes and upon the terms set forth. --Abbott.