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Avail

[uh-veyl]

Example Sentences Origin

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verb (used with object)

to be of use or value to; profit; advantage: All our efforts availed us little in trying to effect a change.

verb (used without object)

to be of use; have force or efficacy; serve; help: His strength did not avail against the hostile onslaught.

to be of value or profit.

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to introduce subtleties into or argue subtly about.

to swindle, cheat, hoodwink, or hoax.

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noun

advantage; use; efficacy; effective use in the achievement of a goal or objective: His belated help will be of little or no avail.

avails, Archaic. profits or proceeds.

Idiom

avail oneself of, to use to one's advantage: They availed themselves of the opportunity to hear a free concert.

Origin:
1250–1300; Middle English availe, equivalent to a- a-² + vaile < Old French vail- (stem of valoir) < Latin valēre to be of worth

Related forms

a·vail·ing·ly, adverb

un·a·vailed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To Avail

Example Sentences

Do not avail yourself of any of the scientific benefits either.

Whether he will avail himself of the newer treatments hasn't been decided.

Local police scrambled for clues, but to no avail.

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Collins

World English Dictionary

avail (əˈveɪl)

—vb
1.	to be of use, advantage, profit, or assistance (to)
2.	avail oneself of to make use of to one's advantage

—n
3.	use or advantage (esp in the phrases of no avail, to little avail)

[C13 availen, from vailen, from Old French valoir, from Latin valēre to be strong, prevail]

a'vailingly

—*adv*

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

avail

c.1300, availen, from O.Fr. a- "to" + vailen "to avail," from vaill-, present stem of valoir "be worth," from L. valere (see valiant). Availing, pp. adj., "advantageous" is from early 15c.

American Heritage

Idioms & Phrases

avail

In addition to the idiom beginning with avail, also see to no avail.

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