De*vel"op (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Developed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Developing.] [F. déveloper; dé- (L. dis-) + OF. voluper, voleper, to envelop, perh. from L. volup agreeably, delightfully, and hence orig., to make agreeable or comfortable by enveloping, to keep snug (cf. Voluptuous); or. perh. fr. a derivative of volvere, volutum, to roll (cf. Devolve). Cf. Envelop.] [Written also develope.] 1. To free from that which infolds or envelops; to unfold; to lay open by degrees or in detail; to make visible or known; to disclose; to produce or give forth; as, to develop theories; a motor that develops 100 horse power.
These serve to develop its tenets.
Milner.
The 20th was spent in strengthening our position and developing the line of the enemy.
The Century.
2. To unfold gradually, as a flower from a bud; hence, to bring through a succession of states or stages, each of which is preparatory to the next; to form or expand by a process of growth; to cause to change gradually from an embryo, or a lower state, to a higher state or form of being; as, sunshine and rain develop the bud into a flower; to develop the mind.
The sound developed itself into a real compound.
J. Peile.
All insects . . . acquire the jointed legs before the wings are fully developed.
Owen.
3. To advance; to further; to prefect; to make to increase; to promote the growth of.
We must develop our own resources to the utmost.
Jowett (Thucyd).
4. (Math.) To change the form of, as of an algebraic expression, by executing certain indicated operations without changing the value.
5. (Photog.) To cause to become visible, as an invisible or latent image upon plate, by submitting it to chemical agents; to bring to view.
To develop a curved surface on a plane (Geom.), to produce on the plane an equivalent surface, as if by rolling the curved surface so that all parts shall successively touch the plane.
Syn. -- To uncover; unfold; evolve; promote; project; lay open; disclose; exhibit; unravel; disentangle.
De*vel"op (?), v. i. 1. To go through a process of natural evolution or growth, by successive changes from a less perfect to a more perfect or more highly organized state; to advance from a simpler form of existence to one more complex either in structure or function; as, a blossom develops from a bud; the seed develops into a plant; the embryo develops into a well-formed animal; the mind develops year by year.
Nor poets enough to understand
That life develops from within.
Mrs. Browning.
2. To become apparent gradually; as, a picture on sensitive paper develops on the application of heat; the plans of the conspirators develop.
De*vel"op*a*ble (?), a. Capable of being developed. J. Peile.
Developable surface (Math.), a surface described by a moving right line, and such that consecutive positions of the generator intersect each other. Hence, the surface can be developed into a plane.
De*vel"op*er (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, develops.
2. (Photog.) A reagent by the action of which the latent image upon a photographic plate, after exposure in the camera, or otherwise, is developed and visible.
De*vel"op*ment (?), n. [Cf. F. développement.] [Written also developement.] 1. The act of developing or disclosing that which is unknown; a gradual unfolding process by which anything is developed, as a plan or method, or an image upon a photographic plate; gradual advancement or growth through a series of progressive changes; also, the result of developing, or a developed state.
A new development of imagination, taste, and poetry.
Channing.
2. (Biol.) The series of changes which animal and vegetable organisms undergo in their passage from the embryonic state to maturity, from a lower to a higher state of organization.
3. (Math.) (a) The act or process of changing or expanding an expression into another of equivalent value or meaning. (b) The equivalent expression into which another has been developed.
4. (mus.) The elaboration of a theme or subject; the unfolding of a musical idea; the evolution of a whole piece or movement from a leading theme or motive.
Development theory (Biol.), the doctrine that animals and plants possess the power of passing by slow and successive stages from a lower to a higher state of organization, and that all the higher forms of life now in existence were thus developed by uniform laws from lower forms, and are not the result of special creative acts. See the Note under Darwinian.
Syn. -- Unfolding; disclosure; unraveling; evolution; elaboration; growth.
De*vel`op*men"tal (?), a. Pertaining to, or characteristic of, the process of development; as, the developmental power of a germ. Carpenter.
Dev`e*nus"tate (?), v. t. [L. devenustatus, p. p. of devenustare to disfigure; de + venustus lovely, graceful.] To deprive of beauty or grace. [Obs.]
{ De*ver"gence (?), De*ver"gen*cy (?), } n. See Divergence. [Obs.]
De*vest" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Devested; p. pr. & vb. n. Devesting.] [L. devestire to undress; de + vestire to dress: cf. OF. devestir, F. dévêtir. Cf. Divest.] 1. To divest; to undress. Shak.
2. To take away, as an authority, title, etc., to deprive; to alienate, as an estate.
This word is now generally written divest, except in the legal sense.
De*vest", v. i. (Law) To be taken away, lost, or alienated, as a title or an estate.
De*vex" (?), a. [L. devexus, from devehere to carry down.] Bending down; sloping. [Obs.]
De*vex", n. Devexity. [Obs.] May (Lucan).
De*vex"i*ty (?), n. [L. devexitas, fr. devexus. See Devex, a.] A bending downward; a sloping; incurvation downward; declivity. [R.] Davies (Wit's Pilgr.)
||De"vi (?), n.; fem. of Deva. A goddess.