[uh-veyl] 
| 1. | to be of use or value to; profit; advantage: All our efforts availed us little in trying to effect a change. |
| 2. | to be of use; have force or efficacy; serve; help: His strength did not avail against the hostile onslaught. |
| 3. | to be of value or profit. |
| 4. | advantage; use; efficacy; effective use in the achievement of a goal or objective: His belated help will be of little or no avail. |
| 5. | avails, Archaic. profits or proceeds. |
| 6. | avail oneself of, to use to one's advantage: They availed themselves of the opportunity to hear a free concert. |
| a·vail (ə-vāl') v. a·vailed, a·vail·ing, a·vails v. tr. To be of use or advantage to; help: Nothing could avail the dying patient. v. intr. To be of use, value, or advantage; serve: Halfway measures will no longer avail. n. Use, benefit, or advantage: labored to no avail. [Middle English availen : a-, intensive pref. (from Latin ad-; see ad-) + Old French valoir, vail-, to be worth (from Latin valēre, to be strong; see wal- in Indo-European roots).] a·vail'ing·ly adv. |
