devolve
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /dɪˈvɒɫv/
ipa: /dɪˈvɑlv/
ipa: /diˈ-/
ipa: /-ˈvɔlv/
rhymes: -ɒlv
Forms: form: devolves
form: devolving
form: devolved
form: devolved
Etymology: Borrowed from Latin dēvolvō (“roll or tumble off or down”), from dē + volvō (“roll”).
Senses: examples: text: an accident […] rendered him permanently lame, and therefore unfitted him, in the opinion of his parents, to inherit his father's many titles, which, it was then arranged, should devolve upon his younger brother.
ref: 1932, Duff Cooper, Talleyrand, Folio Society, published 2010, page 4:
synonyms: pass down
glosses: To be inherited by someone else; to pass down upon the next person in a succession, especially through failure or loss of an earlier holder.
examples: Near-synonyms: pass down, pass on, hand down
glosses: To delegate (a responsibility, duty, etc.) on or upon someone.
examples: text: Despite being a unitary state, the Government of the United Kingdom devolved many matters to the Governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
text: They devolved their whole authority into the hands of the council of sixty.
ref: 1704, Joseph Addison, Remarks on Several Parts of Italy:
text: An artful man became popular, the people had power in their hands, and they devolved a considerable share of their power upon their favourite […].
ref: 1756, Edmund Burke, A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful:
text: Shapps retains responsibility for rail safety in Scotland, with only the operation of track and train devolved to Transport Scotland.
ref: 2020 August 26, “Network News: Shapps orders rapid review of flash flood resilience from NR”, in Rail, page 8:
glosses: To delegate (a responsibility, duty, etc.) on or upon someone.
To transfer authority and responsibility for (something) to (another entity).
qualifier: a federal one to a federated one
raw_tags: of a central government to a local one
examples: text: For the nonce he was rather nonplussed but inasmuch as the duty plainly devolved upon him to take some measures on the subject he pondered suitable ways and means during which Stephen repeatedly yawned.
ref: , Episode 16
coordinate_terms: befall
glosses: To fall as a duty or responsibility on or upon someone.
examples: text: Many legislative powers devolved to the new Scottish parliament in 1999.
coordinate_terms: befall
glosses: To fall as a duty or responsibility on or upon someone.
To shift or to be transferred from a central government to a local one, a federal one to a federated one, etc.
raw_tags: of government authority
examples: text: A discussion about politics may devolve into a shouting match.
antonyms: evolve
improve
coordinate_terms: deform
disintegrate
;
worsen
glosses: To degenerate; to break down.
examples: text: Near-synonyms: unwind, unfurl
text: every headlong stream / Devolves its winding waters to the main.
ref: 1744, Mark Akenside, The Pleasures of the Imagination, section II:
text: He spake of virtue […] And with […] a lack-lustre dead-blue eye, Devolved his rounded periods.
ref: 1830, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Character:
synonyms: roll down
coordinate_terms: revolve
rotate
glosses: To roll (something) down; to unroll.
Derived terms: devolvable
devolvee
devolvement
redevolve
undevolved
Related terms: devolution