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·lution·ar′y (-shə-nĕr′ē) adj. dev′o·lution·ist n. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.