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   devolve

   /dɪˈvɒlv/

   verb

   • 1. transfer or delegate (power) to a lower level, especially from central government to local or regional administration: "measures to devolve power to a Scottish assembly"
   • ▪ (of duties or responsibility) pass to (a body or person at a lower level): "his duties devolved on a comrade"
   • ▪ (of property) be transferred from one owner to (another), especially by inheritance: "the estate had devolved to the heir"
   • 2. pass into (a different state, especially a worse one); degenerate: formal "the Empire devolved into separate warring states"

   Word Origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘roll down’): from Latin devolvere, from de- ‘down’ + volvere ‘to roll’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. devolvement noun

   Scrabble Points: 14

   • D

     2

   • E

     1

   • V

     4

   • O

     1

   • L

     1

   • V

     4

   • E

     1

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