de·val I. \dəˈvȧl, -vȯl\intransitive verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: Middle English devalen to descend, sink, from Middle French devaler, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin devallare, from Latin de down, away + (assumed) Vulgar Latin -vallare (from Latin valles, vallis valley) — more at de-, vale chiefly Scotland: to leave off : cease < it rained the whole day and never devaled > II. noun (-s) Scotland: cessation, pause