English Explanatory Dictionary

devolve

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. 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.
  2. To delegate (a responsibility, duty, etc.) on or upon someone.
  3. To transfer authority and responsibility for (something) to (another entity).
  4. To fall as a duty or responsibility on or upon someone.
  5. To shift or to be transferred from a central government to a local one, a federal one to a federated one, etc.
  6. To degenerate; to break down.
  7. To roll (something) down; to unroll.

Pronunciation

/dɪˈvɒɫv/ /dɪˈvɑlv/ /diˈ-/ /-ˈvɔlv/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-devolve.wav

Word forms

devolve devolves devolving devolved

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *de Proto-Indo-European *-h₁ Proto-Indo-European *déh₁ Proto-Italic *dē Latin dē Latin dē- Proto-Indo-European *welH-der. Proto-Italic *wolwō Latin volvō Latin dēvolvōbor. English devolve Borrowed from Latin dēvolvō (“roll or tumble off or down”), from dē- + volvō (“roll”).

Synonyms

pass down pass on hand down roll down unwind unfurl

Antonyms

deteriorate atrophy break down crack decline degenerate devolve confound fade fall off go bad go downhill go left go off go pear-shaped go sideways go south go to hell go to pot go to seed go to the dogs go wrong lapse molder pejorate retrograde suffer spend sweal shrivel tabefy wither wither away wane wanse worsen evolve improve

Related words

devolution

Derived words

devolvable devolvee devolvement redevolve undevolved

Translations

Bulgarian: предавам Bulgarian: прехвърлям Czech: přenést Czech: převést Georgian: გადასცემს German: übergeben Polish: przekazać Polish: przenieść Russian: передава́ть Scots: devolve Spanish: delegar
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