Devolving and Representative

noun

• A person who represents others.
• An advocate who represents someone else's policy or purpose.
  • usage: "the meeting was attended by spokespersons for all the major organs of government"
  • synonyms: spokesperson, interpreter, voice
• A member of the United States House of Representatives.
  • synonyms: congressman, congresswoman
• An item of information that is typical of a class or group.
  • usage: "this patient provides a typical example of the syndrome"; "there is an example on page 10"
  • synonyms: example, illustration, instance

adjective

• Serving to represent or typify.
  • usage: "representative moviegoers"; "a representative modern play"
• Standing for something else.
  • usage: "the bald eagle is representative of the United States"
• Being or characteristic of government by representation in which citizens exercise power through elected officers and representatives.
  • usage: "representative government as defined by Abraham Lincoln is government of the people, by the people, for the people"

• (n.) One who or that which, represents (anything); that which exhibits a likeness or similitude.
• (a.) Serving or fitted to present the full characters of the type of a group; typical; as, a representative genus in a family.
• (n.) A species or variety which, in any region, takes the place of a similar one in another region.
• (n.) An agent, deputy or substitute, who supplies the place of another or others, being invested with his or their authority.
• (n.) That which presents the full character of the type of a group.
• (a.) Bearing the character or power of another; acting for another or others; as, a council representative of the people.
• (n.) A member of the lower or popular house in a State legislature or in the national Congress.
• (a.) Giving or existing as, a transcript of what was originally presentative knowledge; as, representative faculties; representative knowledge. See Presentative, 3 and Represent, 8.
• (a.) Fitted to represent; exhibiting a similitude.
• (a.) Conducted by persons chosen to represent or act as deputies for, the people; as, a representative government.
• (n.) One who represents or stands in the place of, another.
• (a.) Similar in general appearance, structure, and habits, but living in different regions; -- said of certain species and varieties.