devolve

verb

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *de Proto-Indo-European *-h₁ Proto-Indo-European *déh₁ Proto-Italic *dē Latin dē Latin dē- Proto-Indo-European *welH-der. Proto-Italic *wolwō Latin volvō Latin dēvolvōbor. English devolve Borrowed from Latin dēvolvō (“roll or tumble off or down”), from dē- + volvō (“roll”).

1. 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.

   “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.”

2. To delegate (a responsibility, duty, etc.) on or upon someone.

   “Near-synonyms: pass down, pass on, hand down”

3. To delegate (a responsibility, duty, etc.) on or upon someone.

   “Despite being a unitary state, the Government of the United Kingdom devolved many matters to the Governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.”

   “They devolved their whole authority into the hands of the council of sixty.”

4. To fall as a duty or responsibility on or upon someone.

   “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.”

5. To fall as a duty or responsibility on or upon someone.

   “Many legislative powers devolved to the new Scottish parliament in 1999.”

6. To degenerate; to break down.

   “A discussion about politics may devolve into a shouting match.”

7. To roll (something) down; to unroll.

   “Near-synonyms: unwind, unfurl”

   “every headlong stream / Devolves its winding waters to the main.”