develop, v.
(dɪˈvɛləp)
Also 7 devellop, 7– develope.
[a. F. développe-r, OF. (12–13th c.) desvoleper, -volosper, -voloper, 14th c. desvelopper (whence an earlier Eng. form disvelop), = Pr. desvolopar, -volupar, It. sviluppare ‘to unwrap, to disentangle, to rid free’ (Florio), f. des-, L. dis- + the Rom. verb which appears in mod.It. as viluppare ‘to enwrap, to bundle, to folde, to roll up, to entangle, to trusse up, to heape up’, viluppo ‘an enwrapping, a bundle, a fardle, a trusse, an enfolding’ (Florio).
The oldest form of the radical appears to have been volupare, volopare; its derivation is uncertain: see also envelop.]
† 1. a. trans. To unfold, unroll (anything folded or rolled up); to unfurl (a banner); to open out of its enfolding cover. Obs. (in general use.)
| 1592–1611 [see disvelop]. 1656 Blount Glossogr., Developed (Fr. desvelopé), unwrapped, unfolded, undone, displaied, opened. [Ed. 1670 [adds] It is the proper term for spreading or displaying an Ensign in war.] 1692 Coles, Developed, unfolded. 1730–6 Bailey (folio), Developed, unwrapped, unfolded, opened. 1775 Ash, Developed, disentangled, disengaged, cleared from its covering. 1794 Miss Gunning Packet I. 32, I must suppose he returned to the contents of the packet in the same hurry of spirits with which he first developed them. 1814 Mrs. Jane West Alicia de Lacy III. 94 The red rose banner was developed in front of the Lancasterian army. 1868 Cussans Her. xx. 265 So depicted on the Standard as to appear correct when it was developed by the wind. |
b. Geom. To flatten out (a curved surface, e.g. that of a cylinder or cone) as it were by unrolling it; also, in wider sense, to change the form of (a surface) by bending. See developable b.
| 1879 Thomson & Tait Nat. Phil. I. i. §139 The process of changing the form of a surface by bending is called ‘developing’. But the term ‘Developable Surface’ is commonly restricted to such inextensible surfaces as can be developed into a plane, or, in common language, ‘smoothed flat’. |
† 2. a. To lay open by removal of that which enfolds (in a fig. sense), to unveil; to unfold (a tale, the meaning of a thing); to disclose, reveal. Obs. (exc. as passing into 3.)
| 1742 Pope Dunc. iv. 269 Then take him to devellop, if you can, And hew the Block off, and get out the Man. 1756 Monitor No. 35 Flattering his sagacity in developing the concealed meaning. 1789 T. Jefferson Writ. (1859) II. 554 To appeal to the nation, and to develop to it the ruin of their finances. 1812 J. J. Henry Camp. agst. Quebec 156 The steam would search for a vent through the crevices of the door..and develop our measures. 1837 Dickens Pickw. xvii, Nathaniel Pipkin determined that, come what might, he would develope the state of his feelings. |
† b. To unveil or lay bare to oneself, to discover, detect, find out. Obs.
| 1770 C. Jenner Placid Man I. 53 This circumstance was of singular use to me in helping me to develope her real character. 1785 A. M. Bennett Juvenile Indiscretions (1786) I. 172 No great penetration was required to develope the writer of this friendly billet. 1787 A. Hilditch Rosa de Montmorien I. 74 His principles were unimpeached, because none could ever develope their real tendency. 1796 J. Moser Hermit of Caucasus I. 27 ‘Here,’ said Ismael, ‘is a recess which I hope is impossible to be develop'd.’ 1802 tr. A. La Fontaine's Reprobate I. 153 To live amidst men whose real characters you will find it difficult, sometimes impossible, to develop. 1822 E. Nathan Langreath I. 202 He did not possess the tact of developing in an instant the weakness of the human heart. |
† c. To unroll or open up that which enfolds, covers, or conceals. Obs.
| 1779 Sylph I. 192 Nor will the signature contribute to develop the cloud behind which I chuse to conceal myself. Ibid. II. 41 If he should have..developed the thin veil I spread over the feelings I have laboured..to overcome. 1785 A. M. Bennett Juvenile Indiscretions (1786) III. 41 Nor is it necessary they should have the trouble of developing the obscurity of my character. |
3. a. To unfold more fully, bring out all that is potentially contained in.
| 1750 Warburton Julian Wks. 1811 VIII. xxviii, To instruct us in the history of the human mind, and to assist us in developing its faculties. 1790 Sir J. Reynolds Disc. xv, To develope the latent excellencies..of our art. 1827 Hare Guesses (1859) 285 One may develope an idea..But one cannot add to it, least of all in another age. 1864 Bowen Logic ix. 268 To ascertain, develop, and illustrate his meaning. 1873 M. Arnold Lit. & Dogma v. (1876) 129 Learned religion elucidates and developes the relation of the Son to the Father. 1885 Manch. Exam. 10 July 5/3 The trade might be developed to almost any extent. |
b. Mil. To open gradually (an attack).
| 1883 Stevenson Treas. Isl. iv. xxi, The attack would be developed from the north. |
c. Mus. See development 10.
| 1880 Stainer Composition ix. §161 A melody is rarely developed without frequent changes of key, or of harmony. Ibid. §162 A fragment of melody is said to be developed when its outline is altered and expanded so as to create new interest. Ibid., Exercises. Develope by various methods the following subjects, as if portions of a Pianoforte Sonata. |
d. Chess. Phrases: to develop one's game, to move one or more men from the original position into positions more useful for attack or defence; to develop a piece, to bring that piece towards or into a position where it is of greatest service.
| 1847 H. Staunton Chess-Player's Handbk. 22 In chess, this is attempted by the first player putting a Pawn en prise of the enemy early in the game, by which he is enabled more rapidly and effectually to develope his superior Pieces. Ibid. 147 Leaving him the option of exchanging Knights or of protecting his K.P., either of which would afford you an opportunity of developing your game. 1864 Chess Player's Mag. 52 Black, it seems, had no other chance of developing his game than to give up Rook for Knight at this point. 1952 E. Lasker Chess Secrets 41 He has developed one more piece than White. |
e. To show the details of (a piece of work) in a drawing (cf. development 7 d).
| 1888 [see development 7 d]. |
f. To realize the potentialities of (a site, estate, property, or the like) by laying it out, building, mining, etc.; to convert (a tract of land) to a new purpose or to make it suitable for residential, industrial, business, etc., purposes.
| 1890 Sir R. Romer in Law Times' Rep. LXIII. 685/2 For working and developing the property to the best advantage. 1901 Times 6 Nov. 5/1 Hogarth's house in Chiswick..will probably be purchased by a builder who will do what is called develop the property; we all know pretty well what that means. 1931 Economist 20 June 1312/1 It was unjust to apply this burden to ‘developed’ land, that is, to land the value of which has been raised by the energy or enterprise of its owner in putting it to good use. 1932 Times Lit. Suppl. 26 May 392/2 The tenants will be turned out as soon as possible and the whole estate ‘developed’ as a site for a factory. |
4. Math. To change a mathematical function or expression into another of equivalent value or meaning and of more expanded form; esp. to expand into the form of a series.
| 1871 E. Olney Infinit. Calc. 67 It is proposed to discover the law of development, when the function can be developed in the form y = f(x) = A + Bx + Cx2 + Dx3 + Ex4 + etc. |
5. a. To bring forth from a latent or elementary condition (a physical agent or condition of matter); to make manifest what already existed under some other form or condition.
| 1813 Sir H. Davy Agric. Chem. (1814) 66 Acids are generally developed. 1831 Brewster Optics vii. 73 Such a white light I have succeeded in developing. 1834 M. Somerville Connex. Phys. Sc. xxx. (1849) 350 The same mechanical means which develope magnetism will also destroy it. 1839 G. Bird Nat. Phil. 279 This mode of developing electricity was discovered.. by Prof. Seebeck. 1842 Grove Corr. Phys. Forces 59 Heat is developed in some proportion to the disappearance of light. 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. xx. 144 We thus develop both attraction and repulsion. |
b. Photogr. To bring out and render visible (the latent image produced by actinic action upon the sensitive surface); to apply to (the plate or film) the chemical treatment by which this is effected. Also absol.
| 1845 Athenæum 22 Feb. 203/1 It is evident then, that all bodies are capable of photographic disturbance, and might be used for the production of pictures—did we know of easy methods by which the pictures might be developed. Ibid. 14 June 593/1 The paper used by Mr. Fox Talbot is the iodide of silver, and the picture is developed by the action of gallic acid. 1859 Jephson & Reeve Brittany 48 He went to and fro to develope the plates and prepare new ones. 1861 Photogr. News Alm. in Circ. Sc. I. 160/2 The plate can be developed for hours or days. 1863–72 Watts Dict. Chem. II. 693 In order to develop the latent image, the [Daguerreotype] plate was exposed to the action of the vapour of mercury. 1873 Tristram Moab xi. 203 All our photographs..have failed, from an accident before they were developed. 1876 G. F. Chambers Astron. 719, I prefer to develope with an iron solution. 1893 Abney Photogr. i. (ed. 8) 3. |
c. intr. for refl.
| 1861 Photogr. News Alm. in Circ. Sc. I. 160/1 A plate well washed..developes cleaner than one washed insufficiently. |
d. intr. To come to light, become known. U.S.
| 1864 Webster 366/1 The plans of the conspirators develop. 1903 N.Y. Even. Post 17 Sept., A new feature of the shooting developed to-day, when it was discovered that [etc.]. 1927 N.Y. Times 29 Sept. 1/6 It developed that Beach had been pressed for money. |
e. trans. To reveal, bring to light. U.S.
| 1889 Kansas Times & Star 8 May, A census of Kansas City's saloons develops the startling fact that there are about 1,000. Ibid. 16 July, A search for the pioneer bicyclist hereabouts developed Dr. Henderson, who proudly rode a wheel on our streets in 1880. 1932 T. J. Grayson Leaders & Periods of Amer. Finance v. 95 He did develop the fact that enormous lump sum appropriations had been made. |
6. trans. To cause to grow (what exists in the germ). a. Said of an organ or organism.
| 1857 Henfrey Bot. §40 In the Banyan tree adventitious roots are frequently developed on the outstretched woody branches. 1863 Huxley Man's Place Nat. 65 In the floor of which a notochord is developed. 1866 Argyll Reign Law ii. (ed. 4) 106 They grow, or, in modern phraseology they are developed. a 1871 Grote Eth. Fragm. i. (1876) 15 Ethical sentiment tends to develop the benevolent impulses. 1878 Browning Poets Croisic 19 We need..benevolence Of nature's sunshine to develop seed So well. |
b. Said of a series of organisms showing progression from a simpler or lower to a higher or more complex type; to evolve.
| 1839 Penny Cycl. XIII. 281 He [Lamarck] supposed that all organized beings, from the lowest to the highest forms, were progressively developed from similar living microscopic particles. This may be called the theory of metamorphosis. 1857 H. Miller Test. Rocks v. 200 The Lamarckian affirms that all our recent species of plants and animals were developed out of previously existing plants and animals of species entirely different. 1880 Haughton Phys. Georg. vi. 273 Forces have been at work, developing in each great continent animal forms peculiar to itself. |
7. transf. a. To evolve (as a product) from pre-existing materials; to cause to grow or come into active existence or operation.
| 1820 Shelley Witch of Atlas xxxvi, In its growth It seemed to have developed no defect Of either sex. 1834 H. Martineau Moral i. 5 Fresh powers..which..develop further resources. 1841–4 Emerson Ess., Politics Wks. (Bohn) I. 242 Wild liberty developes iron conscience. Want of liberty..stupefies conscience. 1847 ― Repr. Men, Napoleon ibid. I. 369 The times.. and his early circumstances combined to develop this pattern democrat. 1866 Rogers Agric. & Prices I. xxiii. 601 In the hope that a new set of customers might be developed. 1868 Bain Ment. & Mor. Sc. Ethics (1875) 630 The situations of different ages and countries develop characteristic qualities. |
b. To exhibit or display in a well-formed condition or in active operation.
| 1834 Medwin Angler in Wales II. 180 His organ of veneration was strongly developed. 1874 Helps Soc. Press. iv. 63 It is astonishing what ambulatory powers he can develop. 1878 Huxley Physiogr. 169 The hardest rocks of Britain are developed in the western and northern parts of the island. 1885 Manch. Exam. 6 Apr. 5/3 Indignant jurymen have recently developed a quite unusual tendency to write letters to the newspapers. |
8. refl. To unfold itself, come gradually into existence or operation.
| 1793 W. Roberts Looker-on (1794) III. No. 67. 36 This prominent part of their character began to develope itself. 1830 D'Israeli Chas. I, III. ii. 16 The faculties of Charles developed themselves. 1841 Trench Parables, Tares 96 We learn that evil..is ever to develop itself more fully. 1847 L. Hunt Jar Honey x. (1848) 132 New beauties successively developed themselves. 1860 Ruskin Mod. Paint. V. vii. iii. §8. 130 The quiet, thoroughly defined, infinitely divided and modelled pyramid [of cloud] never develops itself. 1875 Buckland Log-bk. 276 A serious fault had developed itself. 1879 M{supc}Carthy Own Times II. xxii. 122 Our constitutional system grows and developes itself year after year. |
9. intr. (for refl.) a. To unfold itself, grow from a germ or rudimentary condition; to grow into a fuller, higher, or maturer condition.
| a 1843 Southey Inscriptions xxxv, How differently Did the two spirits..Develope in that awful element. 1845 J. H. Newman Ess. Developm. i. i. (1846) 37 An idea..cannot develope at all except either by destroying, or modifying and incorporating with itself, existing modes of thinking and acting. 1859 Kingsley Misc., Swift & Pope (1860) I. 285 The man..goes on..developing almost unconsciously. 1874 Green Short Hist. vii. §5. 387 London developed into the general mart of Europe. 1880 M{supc}Carthy Own Times IV. liv. 179 It seems certainly destined to develope rather than fade. 1884 ‘L. Malet’ Mrs. Lorimer 11 Such women..do not develop very early either spiritually or mentally. |
b. Of diseases: To advance from the latent stage which follows the introduction of the germs, to that in which the morbid action manifests itself.
| 1891 Law Times XCII. 131/2 The time swine fever takes to develop. |