1. To transfer power, responsibility, or rights to someone or something; for example, from a central government to a regional government, or to be transferred in this way.
2. To become the duty or responsibility of another person.
3. To deteriorate slowly over time; to degenerate, or to deteriorate, gradually.
4. To be given to someone under the terms of a will or other legal instruction.
5. Etymology: from Latin devolvere, "to roll down"; from de-, "down" or "reverse" + volvere, "to roll".