də̇ˈvälv, dēˈ-, -vȯlv also -vä(u)v or -vȯv verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English devolven to roll down, from Latin devolvere, from de down, away + volvere to roll — more at de- , voluble
transitive verb
1. archaic : to roll onward or downward
2. obsolete : to cause to pass down, descend, be transferred, or changed (as by the course of events or operation of law)
3. : to transfer from one person to another : hand down — usually used with upon, sometimes with to or into
The God-Father … having devolved his potency upon men — Weston La Barre
the risk of … devolving a measure of authority to people who are poor and politically immature — A.C.Jones
intransitive verb
1. : to pass by transmission or succession
his estate devolved on a distant cousin
: fall or be passed usually as an obligation or responsibility
after the general fell, command devolved upon the colonel
the chairmanship shall devolve in strict order of seniority
2.
a. : to flow or roll from a situation viewed as higher to one that is lower
streams devolving from the mountains
b. archaic : to proceed from one point or condition into another as if by flowing or unrolling