devolvo

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [deːˈwɔɫ.woː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [deˈvɔl.vo]^[1]

Forms

dēvolvō (present infinitive dēvolvere, perfect active dēvolvī, supine dēvolūtum); third conjugation^[1]

Etymology

It is from dē- “down” and volvō “to roll”.^[2][1][3] De Vaan traces ⟨volvō⟩ to Proto-Italic ⟨*welu-⟩ “to wind”.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Caesar, who has saxa in mūsculum dēvolvere “to roll rocks down onto the siege shed”.^[2][5] Köbler dates Caesar c. 50 BC.^[6]

Semantic evolution

It meant to roll down, as in Caesar, and in the passive to roll or tumble down, as in Catullus.^[2] Lewis & Short add figurative uses, sinking or falling into a state.^[5]

It survives in Italian devolvere and Spanish devolver.^[1] It gave English devolve in the mid-15th century, first “to roll downward”.^[3]

Timeline

• c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it.^[2][6]
• 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus uses the passive.^[2][6]
• mid-15th century – English devolve is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Verb

1. To roll down.^[2]
2. (passive) To roll or tumble down; to sink into.^[2][5]

Related words

• advolvō
• circumvolvō
• convolvō
• ēvolvō
• involvō
• obvolvō
• prōvolvō
• revolvō
• subvolvō
• volvō
• English devolve

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
5. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de