devolve

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.
   • an accident […] rendered him permanently lame, and therefore unfitted him, in the opinion of his parents, to inherit his father's many titles, which, it was then arranged, should devolve upon his younger brother. -...

   Synonyms: pass down

2. To delegate (a responsibility, duty, etc.) on or upon someone.
   • Near-synonyms: pass down, pass on, hand down

   Synonyms: pass down pass on hand down

   1. (especially of a central government to a local one, a federal one to a federated one, etc.) To transfer authority and responsibility for (something) to (another entity).

      • Despite being a unitary state, the Government of the United Kingdom devolved many matters to the Governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
      • They devolved their whole authority into the hands of the council of sixty. - 1704, Joseph Addison, Remarks on Several Parts of Italy:
      • An artful man became popular, the people had power in their hands, and they devolved a considerable share of their power upon their favourite […]. - 1756, Edmund Burke, A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of Our...

      Synonyms: pass down pass on hand down

3. To fall as a duty or responsibility on or upon someone.
   • For the nonce he was rather nonplussed but inasmuch as the duty plainly devolved upon him to take some measures on the subject he pondered suitable ways and means during which Stephen repeatedly yawned. - , Episode 16

   Coordinate Terms: befall

   1. (especially of government authority) To shift or to be transferred from a central government to a local one, a federal one to a federated one, etc.

      • Many legislative powers devolved to the new Scottish parliament in 1999.

      Coordinate Terms: befall

4. To degenerate; to break down.
   • A discussion about politics may devolve into a shouting match.

   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

   Coordinate Terms: deform disintegrate worsen

5. To roll (something) down; to unroll.
   • Near-synonyms: unwind, unfurl
   • every headlong stream / Devolves its winding waters to the main. - 1744, Mark Akenside, The Pleasures of the Imagination, section II:
   • He spake of virtue […] And with […] a lack-lustre dead-blue eye, Devolved his rounded periods. - 1830, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Character:

   Synonyms: roll down unwind unfurl

   Coordinate Terms: revolve rotate