Prevail

Prevail
Prevail Pre*vail", v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Prevailed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Prevailing}.] [F. pr['e]valoir, OF. prevaleir, L. praevalere; prae before + valere to be strong, able, or worth. See {Valiant}.] 1. To overcome; to gain the victory or superiority; to gain the advantage; to have the upper hand, or the mastery; to succeed; -- sometimes with over or against. [1913 Webster]

When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. --Ex. xvii. 11. [1913 Webster]

So David prevailed over the Philistine. --1 Sam. xvii. 50. [1913 Webster]

This kingdom could never prevail against the united power of England. --Swift. [1913 Webster]

2. To be in force; to have effect, power, or influence; to be predominant; to have currency or prevalence; to obtain; as, the practice prevails this day. [1913 Webster]

This custom makes the short-sighted bigots, and the warier skeptics, as far as it prevails. --Locke. [1913 Webster]

3. To persuade or induce; -- with on, upon, or with; as, I prevailedon him to wait. [1913 Webster]

He was prevailed with to restrain the Earl. --Clarendon. [1913 Webster]

Prevail upon some judicious friend to be your constant hearer, and allow him the utmost freedom. --Swift. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • prevail — pre‧vail [prɪˈveɪl] verb [intransitive] formal 1. if someone or their arguments, views etc prevail, they finally win an argument after a long period of time: • The company is hoping to prevail in a court challenge to the water board ruling.… …   Financial and business terms

  • prevail — pre·vail /pri vāl/ vi 1: to obtain substantially the relief or action sought in a lawsuit 2: to be frequent or predominant the prevail ing rate Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996 …   Law dictionary

  • prevail — [prē vāl′, privāl′] vi. [ME prevaylen < L praevalere < prae , before (see PRE ) + valere, to be strong: see VALUE] 1. to gain the advantage or mastery; be victorious; triumph: often with over or against 2. to produce or achieve the desired… …   English World dictionary

  • Prevail — may refer to: *Prevail (musician), a hip hop artist from Vancouver *Prevail (album), an album by death metal band Kataklysm …   Wikipedia

  • prevail on — prevail upon / prevail on [v] persuade, influence affect, argue into, bring around, convince, crack, dispose, draw, get, get around, impress, incline, induce, promote, prompt, put across, ram down throat*, sell*, suck in*, sway, talk into, win… …   New thesaurus

  • prevail — ► VERB 1) prove more powerful; be victorious. 2) (prevail on/upon) persuade to do something. 3) be widespread or current. DERIVATIVES prevailing adjective. ORIGIN Latin praevalere have greater power …   English terms dictionary

  • prevail on — index govern Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • prevail on — prevail (up)on (Roget s Thesaurus II) verb To succeed in causing (a person) to act in a certain way: argue into, bring, bring around (or round), convince, get, induce, persuade, sell (on), talk into. See PERSUASION …   English dictionary for students

  • prevail — (v.) late 14c., from L. praevalere have greater power, from prae before (see PRE (Cf. pre )) + valere have power, be strong (see VALIANT (Cf. valiant)). Related: Prevailed; prevailing …   Etymology dictionary

  • prevail\ on — • prevail (up)on v To bring to an act or belief; cause a change in; persuade. He prevailed upon the musician to entertain instead of the absent speaker. He prevailed upon me to believe in his innocence …   Словарь американских идиом

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