Devolution and Decay

noun

• The process of declining from a higher to a lower level of effective power or vitality or essential quality.
  • synonyms: degeneration
• The delegation of authority (especially from a central to a regional government. ).
  • synonyms: devolvement

• (n.) The act of rolling down.
• (n.) Transference from one person to another; a passing or devolving upon a successor.

DEVOLUTION is the delegation of authority from higher to lower levels.

noun

• The process of gradually becoming inferior.
• A gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current.
  • synonyms: decline
• The organic phenomenon of rotting.
  • synonyms: decomposition
• An inferior state resulting from the process of decaying.
  • usage: "the corpse was in an advanced state of decay"; "the house had fallen into a serious state of decay and disrepair"
• The spontaneous disintegration of a radioactive substance along with the emission of ionizing radiation.
  • synonyms: radioactive decay, disintegration

verb

• Lose a stored charge, magnetic flux, or current.
  • usage: "the particles disintegrated during the nuclear fission process"
  • synonyms: disintegrate, decompose
• Fall into decay or ruin.
  • usage: "The unoccupied house started to decay"
  • synonyms: crumble, dilapidate
• Undergo decay or decomposition.
  • usage: "The body started to decay and needed to be cremated"

• (n.) Cause of decay.
• (v.t.) To destroy.
• (v.t.) To cause to decay; to impair.
• (n.) Gradual failure of health, strength, soundness, prosperity or of any species of excellence or perfection; tendency toward dissolution or extinction; corruption; rottenness; decline; deterioration; as, the decay of the body; the decay of virtue; the decay of the Roman empire; a castle in decay.
• (n.) Destruction; death.
• (v.i.) To pass gradually from a sound, prosperous or perfect state, to one of imperfection, adversity or dissolution; to waste away; to decline; to fail; to become weak, corrupt or disintegrated; to rot; to perish; as, a tree decays; fortunes decay; hopes decay.