▪ I. † ˈdevolute, ppl. a. Obs.
[ad. L. dēvolūt-us pa. pple. of dēvolvĕre: see devolve.]
Devolved, transmitted down.
| 1460 J. Capgrave Chron. 53 Alisaundre rejoysed the kyngdam of Babilon, that was thanne..devolute to the kyngdam of Perse. 1513 More Rich. III, Wks. 63 Y⊇ right and title of [the crown of England]..is..deuolute & comen vnto y⊇ most excellent prince y⊇ lord protector. 1531 Dial. on Laws Eng. xxxi. (1638) 54 If a Title..be once devolute to the heire in the taile. 1621 R. Johnson Way to Glory 41 The monarchie of the Romans..became devolute to Julian the apostate. [1721 St. German's Doct. & Stud. 261 Specially if the collation be devolute to the Pope.] |
▪ II. devolute, v. rare.
(ˈdɛvəl(j)uːt)
[f. L. dēvolūt- ppl. stem of dēvolvĕre: see devolve.]
1. trans. To pass or transfer by devolution; to devolve.
| c 1534 tr. Pol. Verg. Eng. Hist. (Camden 1846) I. 127 At the lengthe the monarchie was devoluted to one onlie. 1548 Hall Chron. 182 The saied Crowne..should immediatly bee divoluted to the Duke of Yorke. 1570–6 Lambarde Peramb. Kent (1826) 229 The right of the Advowson was devoluted unto him. 1586 J. Ferne Blaz. Gentrie 31 The coat deuoluted to the bearer from his auncestours. 1891 Pall Mall G. 28 July 2/2 The House will devise means of devoluting some of its work to more leisured bodies. |
2. intr. To lapse.
| 1893 A. Kenealy Molly & Man 24 Some dusky potentate, whose entity and powers had devoluted through the ages. |