v., -volved, -volv·ing, -volves. v.tr.
- To pass on or delegate to another: The senator devolved the duties of office upon a group of aides.
- Archaic. To cause to roll onward or downward.
- To be passed on or transferred to another: The burden of proof devolved upon the defendant. The estate devolved to an unlikely heir.
- To degenerate or deteriorate gradually: After several hours the discussion had devolved into a shouting match.
- Archaic. To roll onward or downward.
[Middle English devolven, to transfer, from Old French devolver, to confer, ascribe, from Latin dēvolvere, to roll down, fall to : dē-, de- + volvere, to roll.]
devolvement de·volve'ment n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
