Evolution

ev-ol-ū′shun, n. the act of unrolling or unfolding: gradual working out or development: a series of things unfolded: the doctrine according to which higher forms of life have gradually arisen out of lower: ( arith. , alg. ) the extraction of roots: ( pl. ) the orderly movements of a body of troops or of ships of war.— adjs. Evolū′tional , Evolū′tionary , of or pertaining to evolution.— ns. Evolū′tionism , the theory of evolution; Evolū′tionist , one skilled in evolutions or military movements: one who believes in evolution as a principle in science.— adj. Ev′olūtive . [L. evolutionem — evolvĕre .]