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devolve
Use
Devolve
in a sentence
de·volve
/
dɪˈvɒlv
/
Show Spelled
[
dih-
volv
]
Show IPA
verb,
de·volved,
de·volv·ing.
verb (used with object)
1.
to transfer or delegate (a duty, responsibility, etc.) to or upon another; pass on.
2.
Obsolete
.
to cause to roll downward.
verb (used without object)
3.
to be transferred or passed on from one to another:
The responsibility devolved on me.
4.
Archaic.
to roll or flow downward.
Origin:
1375–1425;
late Middle English
devolven
<
Latin
dēvolvere
to roll down, equivalent to
dē-
de-
+
volvere
to roll
Related forms
de·volve·ment,
noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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devolve
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00:10
Devolve
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is
absquatulate
. Does it mean:
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subtilize
. Does it mean:
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lollygag
. Does it mean:
to spend time idly; loaf.
to flee; abscond:
to introduce subtleties into or argue subtly about.
chat, to converse
to spend time idly; loaf.
to flee; abscond:
LEARN MORE FUN, UNUSUAL VERBS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Collins
World English Dictionary
devolve
(dɪˈvɒlv)
—
vb
(foll by
on, upon, to,
etc
)
1.
to pass or cause to pass to a successor or substitute, as duties, power, etc
2.
(
intr;
foll by
on
or
upon
)
law
(of an estate, etc) to pass to another by operation of law, esp on intestacy or bankruptcy
3.
(
intr;
foll by
on
or
upon
) to depend (on):
your argument devolves on how you interpret this clause
4.
archaic
to roll down or cause to roll down
[C15: from Latin
dēvolvere
to roll down, fall into, from
de-
+
volvere
to roll]
de'volvement
—
n
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
devolve
c.1420, from L. devolvere "to roll down," from de- + volvere "to roll" (see
vulva
).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Example sentences
The constant worry is that direct talks will
devolve
into recriminations and
new violence.
The argument for legalizing pot evolves as other arguments
devolve
.
Characters
devolve
into ideas that have somehow found human hosts.
Please consider that solutions which begin with voluntary austerity
devolve
rapidly to enforced privation.
Most people would rather
devolve
this sort of responsibility to the authorities.
There was little point in their grand experiment if they let it
devolve
into sullen chaos right from the inception.
Devolve
decision making on pay to appropriate levels.
The meeting would eventually
devolve
into a free-form discussion, devoid of structure or direction.
Regional conflicts do not stay isolated for long and often spread or
devolve
into humanitarian tragedy or anarchy.
Resident's rights
devolve
to authorized representative.
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Matching Quote
"One of the duties which
devolve
upon women in the present interesting crisis, is to prepare themselves for more extensive usefulness, by making use of those religious and literary privileges and advantages that are within their reach, if they will only stretch out their hands and possess them."
-Sarah M. Grimke
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Synonyms
degenerate
delegate
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