Verb Intr Devolved Devolve Di Volv Tr Transfer Passed

devolve /di-VOLV/

verb tr., intr.

To transfer or be passed (duties, rights, powers, etc.) on to another.

verb intr.

To deteriorate or degenerate.

[From Latin devolvere (to roll down), from de- (down) + volvere (to roll). Ultimately from the Indo-European root wel- (to turn or roll), which also gave us waltz, revolve, valley, walk, vault, volume, wallet, helix, and voluble. Earliest documented use: 1420.]

“Indonesia has devolved much authority to local government.” - Fanfare for the Common Man; The Economist (London, UK); Jul 26, 2014.

“The event devolved into violence on both sides.” - Nick Pinto; The Point of Order; The New York Times Magazine; Jan 18, 2015.