devolve

Verb

devolve (third-person singular simple present devolves, present participle devolving, simple past and past participle devolved)

1. (intransitive) 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.1932, Duff Cooper, Talleyrand, Folio Society, published 2010, page 4

   Synonyms:

   pass down

2. (transitive) 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, transitive, usually, a federal one to a federated one) 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
3. (intransitive) 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
   1. (especially, intransitive) 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.
4. (intransitive) To degenerate; to break down.
   • A discussion about politics may devolve into a shouting match.

   Synonyms:

   deteriorate, atrophy, break down, crack, decline, degenerate, confound, fade, fall off, go bad

   Antonyms:

   evolve, improve

5. (obsolete, transitive) 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

   Synonyms:

   roll down, unwind, unfurl