Word: devolve

Associations

"Devolve" means to transfer responsibility or power to a lower level, often in an organization or government. It can also imply that something is deteriorating or declining.

• Example 1: "The government decided to devolve more powers to local councils." (This means the government gave more authority to local bodies.)
• Example 2: "If the situation continues to devolve, we may see a breakdown of law and order." (Here it means the situation is getting worse.)
• Example 3: "The company's decision to devolve tasks led to increased efficiency." (This means the company assigned tasks to lower levels to improve work flow.)

Important distinction: A synonym for "devolve" is "delegate," but "delegate" usually suggests giving specific tasks to someone else, whereas "devolve" has a broader meaning of transferring authority or responsibility.

Substitution

Instead of "devolve," you could use:

• "Delegate" - for specific tasks.
• "Transfer" - for moving responsibility.
• "Decentralize" - for spreading out power. This can indicate a more systematic approach to distributing authority.
• "Deteriorate" - when used in the context of something getting worse.

Deconstruction

The word "devolve" comes from Latin roots.

• "De-" means "down" or "away."
• "Volv" comes from "volvere," which means "to roll." Together, it implies something is rolling downward or passing down in authority or quality.

This word is often used in discussions about government, power distribution, or even in situations involving relationships and responsibilities.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when responsibility was devolved from one person or group to another? What happened as a result?
• In what situations do you think devolving power can be beneficial? When might it be harmful?
• How do you feel about the idea of devolving power? Do you think it leads to better outcomes? Why or why not?