devolve
verb [ I or T ]
uk/dɪˈvɒlv/ us POLITICS
to give power or a responsibility to a person or group that is at a lower level or has less authority:
devolve sth to sb/sth Spending under these budget items must be devolved to local offices.
The constitutional changes to devolve power to local authorities will go ahead.
to change something large into several smaller parts of a similar type:
devolve sth into sth A key proposal would devolve the central investigative unit into six regional bodies.
to change from one thing to another, often to something bad:
The stage is set for the country to devolve into military dictatorship, and few seem to care.
LAW
to become a person's property after the owner dies:
devolve to sb Rights to the land devolve to one's heirs upon death.