Definition of the word devolve upon

The origin of the phrase "devolve upon" can be traced back to the Middle English verb "develen" meaning "to turn into" or "to fall to". The Latin equivalent of this word was "declinare", from where the legal term "devolutio" emerged, which referred to the transfer of property or power to a new person or entity. In medieval legal contexts, "devolutio" has been applied to describe the process by which a right or responsibility passed from one individual to another, especially in cases of inheritance or mortmain. The Old French term "devolución" was also used in this sense, and it eventually led to the Middle English term "devolyng" and then "devolving". Today, "devolve upon" is widely used in various contexts which imply a transfer of functions, duties, or obligations to someone else, particularly in legal and political domains. This phrase emphasizes that the new possessor has received something that was earlier owned or managed by someone else.