devolve
/dɪˈvɑlv/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 2.78 in modern English
14
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
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.
Intransitive verb
Example Sentences
- "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."
- "Near-synonyms: pass down, pass on, hand down"
- "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."
- "An artful man became popular, the people had power in their hands, and they devolved a considerable share of their power upon their favourite […]."
- "Shapps retains responsibility for rail safety in Scotland, with only the operation of track and train devolved to Transport Scotland."
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”).
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /dɪˈvɑlv/
- British English: /dɪˈvɒɫv/