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devolution

 - 4 dictionary results

dev⋅o⋅lu⋅tion

  [dev-uh-loo-shuhn or, especially Brit., dee-vuh-]
Use devolution in a Sentence
–noun
1. the act or fact of devolving; passage onward from stage to stage.
2. the passing on to a successor of an unexercised right.
3. Law. the passing of property from one to another, as by hereditary succession.
4. Biology. degeneration.
5. the transfer of power or authority from a central government to a local government.
Origin:
1535–45; (< MF) < ML dēvolūtiōn- (s. of dēvolūtiō) a rolling down, equiv. to L dēvolūt(us) rolled down (ptp. of dēvolvere; see devolve ) + -iōn- -ion

Related forms:
dev⋅o⋅lu⋅tion⋅ar⋅y, adjective, noun
dev⋅o⋅lu⋅tion⋅ist, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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dev·o·lu·tion   (děv'ə-lōō'shən, dē'və-)   
n.  

  1. A passing down or descent through successive stages of time or a process.

  2. Transference, as of rights or qualities, to a successor.

  3. Delegation of authority or duties to a subordinate or substitute.

  4. A transfer of powers from a central government to local units.

  5. Biology Degeneration.


[Late Latin dēvolūtiō, dēvolūtiōn-, from Latin dēvolūtus, past participle of dēvolvere, to roll down, fall to; see devolve.]
dev'o·lu'tion·ar'y (-shə-něr'ē) adj., dev'o·lu'tion·ist n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

devolution 
1545, from de- + (e)volution. Used in various legal and fig. senses; in biology, as the opposite of evolution, it is attested from 1882.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: de·vo·lu·tion
Pronunciation: "de-v&-'lü-sh&n, "dE-
Function: noun
: the transfer (as of rights, powers, property, or responsibility) to another
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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