— devolutionary , adj., n., — devolutionist , n.
/dev'euh looh"sheuhn/ or, esp. Brit., /dee"veuh-/ , n.
1. the act or fact of devolving; passage onward from stage to stage.
2. the passing on to a successor of an unexercised right.
3. Law. the passing of property from one to another, as by hereditary succession.
4. Biol. degeneration.
5. the transfer of power or authority from a central government to a local government.
[ 1535-45; ( devolution- (s. of devolutio ) a rolling down, equiv. to L devolut ( us ) rolled down (ptp. of devolvere; see DEVOLVE) + -ion- -ION ]