Definition of "devolve"

devolve

/dɪˈvɒɫv/

verb
third-person singular simple present devolves, present participle devolving, simple past and past participle devolved
1. (obsolete, transitive) To roll (something) down; to unroll.
  Quotations
  every headlong stream / Devolves its winding waters to the main.
  1744, Mark Akenside, The Pleasures of the Imagination, section II
  He spake of virtue […] And with […] a lack-lustre dead-blue eye, Devolved his rounded periods.
  1830, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Character
2. (intransitive) 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.
  Quotations
  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.
  1932, Duff Cooper, Talleyrand, Folio Society, published 2010, page 4
3. (transitive) To delegate (a responsibility, duty, etc.) on or upon someone.
  Quotations
  They devolved their whole authority into the hands of the council of sixty.
  1704, Joseph Addison, Remarks on Several Parts of Italy
  An artful man became popular, the people had power in their hands, and they devolved a considerable share of their power upon their favourite […].
  1756, Edmund Burke, A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful
  Shapps retains responsibility for rail safety in Scotland, with only the operation of track and train devolved to Transport Scotland.
  2020 August 26, “Network News: Shapps orders rapid review of flash flood resilience from NR”, in Rail, page 8
4. (intransitive) To fall as a duty or responsibility on or upon someone.
  Quotations
  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.
  1922 February, James Joyce, Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, […]
5. (intransitive) To degenerate; to break down.

Definition of "devolve"

devolve

verb

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