devolve upon
phrasal verbdevolve on/upon somebody/something (formal)
- if property, money, etc. devolves on/upon you, you receive it after somebody else dies
- if a duty, responsibility, etc. devolves on/upon you, it is given to you by somebody at a higher level of authority
devolve something to/on/upon somebody
- to give a duty, responsibility, power, etc. to somebody who has less authority than you
- The central government devolved most tax-raising powers to the regional authorities.