devolve

To devolve is to delegate or pass on power especially to someone at a lower level, or to change for the worse.

(verb)

When a federal government leader delegates power to lower-ranked state leaders, this is an example of when power devolves.
When a unified country splits up and dissolves into different governing states, this is an example of when the country devolves.

See devolve in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb devolved, devolving

to transfer or pass on (duties, responsibilities, etc.) to another or others

Origin: ME devolven < L devolvere, to roll down < de-, down + volvere, to roll: see walk

intransitive verb

Related Forms:

See devolve in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb de·volved, de·volv·ing, de·volves

verb, transitive

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.

verb, intransitive

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.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English devolven, to transfer

Origin: , from Old French devolver, to confer, ascribe

Origin: , from Latin dēvolvere, to roll down, fall to

Origin: : dē-, de-

Origin: + volvere, to roll; see wel-² in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: