[ていよくことわる, teiyokukotowaru](exp, v5r) to turn someone down (on some pretext) without offending them; to refuse gracefully; to decline politely[Add to Longdo]
[ことわる, kotowaru](v5r, vt) (1) to refuse; to reject; to dismiss; to turn down; to decline; (2) to inform; to give notice; to tell in advance; (3) to ask leave; to excuse oneself (from); (P)[Add to Longdo]