v. [ad. L. ēvolvĕ-re to roll out, unroll, f. ē out + volvĕre to roll.]
1. trans. To unfold, unroll (something that is wrapped up); to open out, expand. Almost always fig.
a. 1641, 1647. [see EVOLVED ppl. a.]
1677. Hale, Prim. Orig. Man., I. i. 31. This little active Principle as the Body increaseth and dilateth, evolveth, diffuseth and expandeth if not his Substantial Existence, yet his Energy and Virtue.
1835. I. Taylor, Spir. Despot., ii. 54. If we wish to see … the Voluntary Principle fully evolved and ripened under a summer heat.
1839–40. W. Irving, Wolfert’s R. (1855), 67. Mr. Glencoe … would stimulate and evolve the powers of his mind.
1855. H. Reed, Lect. Eng. Lit., vi. (1878), 188. Their condensed wisdom may be evolved for new applications.
† b. lit. To unwind (a thread, also a curved line). Obs. rare.
1730–6. Bailey (folio), Evolute, the first curve supposed to be opened, or evolved, which being opened describes other curves.
1796. Hutton, Math. Dict., Evolute … is any curve supposed to be evolved or opened, by … beginning to evolve or unwind the thread from the other end, keeping the part evolved, or wound off, tight stretched. Ibid. (1811), Course Math., II. 334. If AE, DF, CG, DH, &c, be any positions of the thread, in evolving or unwinding; it follows [etc.].
2. To disengage from wrappings, disclose gradually to view; to disentangle; to set forth in orderly sequence. (Only with reference to immaterial objects, though often consciously fig. from the physical sense).
1664. H. More, Myst. Iniq., xvii. 63. But I have not yet evolved all the intangling Superstitions that may lie wrapt up into these Religious or consecrated Vestments and Habits.
1737. Thomson, To Memory of Ld. Talbot, 144. He thro’ the Maze of Falsehood urg’d it [the Truth] on, Till, at the last evolv’d, it full appear’d.
1744. Akenside, Ep. to Curio. Time … Evolves their secrets, and their guilt proclaims.
1773. Monboddo, Lang., I. I. viii. 101. With so many various forms and substances, that it is difficult to evolve them and shew them by themselves.
1852. Ld. Cockburn, Jeffrey, I. 189. Jeffrey’s … whole opinions and tastes were evolved in these articles.
1858. Sears, Athan., III. ix. 325. The outlines of Paul’s system of Pneumatology … have been sufficiently evolved in the preceding pages.
3. Math. To extract (the root of a number or quantity). Cf. EVOLUTION 4 b.
1811. Hutton, Course Math., I. 202. To Evolve or Extract the Roots of Surd Quantities.
4. To give off, emit, as a product of chemical, vital, or other internal action; to liberate or disengage from a state of chemical combination.
1800. Med. Jrnl., III. 125. The expectorated fluid … may … evolve fetor.
1806. Davy, in Phil. Trans., XCVII. 9. The fixed alkali is not generated, but evolved, either from the solid materials employed, or from saline matter in the water.
1822. Imison, Sc. & Art, II. 63. The chlorine will be evolved.
1844–57. G. Bird, Urin. Deposits (ed. 5), 80. Nitrogen and carbon evolved from the system … in the form of urea and uric acid.
1869. Phillips, Vesuv., iii. 69. In September, 1765, the vapours evolved from Vesuvius grew to be considerable.
5. To bring out (what exists implicitly or potentially): e.g., to educe (order from confusion, light from darkness, etc.); to deduce (a conclusion, law or principle) from the data in which it is involved; to develop (a notion) as the result of reflection or analysis; to work out (a theory or system) out of pre-existing materials.
1831. Carlyle, Sart. Res. (1858), 47. An English Editor, endeavouring to evolve printed Creation out of a German printed and written Chaos.
1851. Hussey, Papal Power, iii. 172. New claims of authority … were gradually evolved from the doctrine of the Supremacy.
1859. Mill, Liberty (1865), 30. Other ethics than any which can be evolved from exclusively Christian sources.
1864. Bowen, Logic, viii. 262. The particular instances are first stated as facts, and then the law they constitute is evolved.
1874. Sayce, Compar. Philol., vii. 281. The idea of a subject-pronoun was evolved last of all.
1883. Mrs. Plunkett, in Harper’s Mag., Jan., 241/2. I evolved a satin-covered heart-shaped Christmas leaf.
6. Of circumstances, conditions or processes: To give rise to, produce by way of natural consequence.
1851. Longf., Gold. Leg., I. Castle Vaultsberg. The new diseases that human life Evolves in its progress.
1866. Huxley, Physiol., x. (1872), 236. The simple sensations which are thus evolved.
1868. Helps, Realmah, xvii. (1876), 476. New felicities—evolved in each representation.
1879. Spectator, 7 June, 719. That habits of gregariousness tend eventually to evolve a morality.
7. To develop by natural processes from a more rudimentary to a more highly organized condition; to originate (animal or vegetable species) by gradual modification from earlier forms; in wider sense, to produce or modify by ‘evolution.’ (See EVOLUTION 6–9). Chiefly in pass. without reference to an agent.
1832. Lyell, Princ. Geol., II. i. 14. The orang-outang, having been evolved out of a monad, is made slowly to attain the attributes and dignity of man.
1837. Sir F. Palgrave, Merch. & Friar (1844), 204. Was the first Ichthyosaurus gradually evolved from some embryo substance?
1849. Murchison, Siluria, ii. (1867), 23. Lying upon them, and therefore evolved after them, other strata succeed.
1873. H. Spencer, Study Sociol., v. 102. Societies are evolved in structure and function as in growth.
1881. Sollas, in Science Gossip, No. 202. 217. The organism … was evolved in the course of ages from some simpler form of life.
1884. E. P. Roe, in Harper’s Mag., April, 737/2. If God … chooses to evolve His universe, why shouldn’t He?
8. intr. for refl. in various of the above senses: To open out, expand; to come gradually into view; to arise by way of natural or logical consequence; to be developed by ‘evolution.’
1799. S. Turner, Anglo-Sax. (1836), I. IV. iv. 288. When great political exigencies evolve … they are usually as much distinguished by the rise of sublime characters.
1800. A. Carlyle, Autobiog., 488. The excellence of that character which gradually evolved on his admiring countrymen.
1827. G. S. Faber, Sacred Cal. Prophecy (1844), I. 201. Then come the days of blessedness, which both Daniel and John describe as evolving in the course of the present visible sublunary world.
1849. C. Brontë, Shirley, v. 57. May feel ripe to evolve in foliage.
1863. W. Phillips, Speeches, ix. 235. Everything else will evolve from it.
1879. H. Spencer, Data of Ethics, § 104. 269. How does mechanical science evolve from these experiences?
1881. Student, II. 35. A tree evolves in obedience to his [God’s] laws.
