avail - Definitions from Dictionary.com

11 results for: avail

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

a·vail

Audio Help [uh-veyl] Pronunciation Key

–verb (used with object)

1.	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)

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.

–noun

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.

—Idiom

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

[Origin: 1250–1300; ME availe, equiv. to a- a-² + vaile < OF vail- (s. of valoir) < L valére to be of worth

]

—Related forms

a·vail·ing·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
avail

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

a·vail Audio Help   (ə-vāl') Pronunciation Key
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.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
avail

c.1300, availen, from a- "to" + vailen "to avail," from O.Fr. vaill-, stem of valoir "be worth," from L. valere (see valiant). Available (1451) originally meant "valid, effective;" sense of "at one's disposal, capable of being availed of" first recorded 1827.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

avail
noun
1.	a means of serving; "of no avail"; "there's no help for it"
verb
1.	use to one's advantage; "He availed himself of the available resources"
2.	be of use to, be useful to; "It will avail them to dispose of their booty"
3.	take or use; "She helped herself to some of the office supplies"

American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

avail

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

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
avail [əˈveil]

of no use or effect
Example: He tried to revive her but to no avail; His efforts were of no avail.

Arabic:	إفادَه، نَفْع، جَدوى
Chinese (Simplified):	無效
Chinese (Traditional):	無效
Czech:	bez výsledku, k ničemu
Danish:	nytte; til ingen nytte
Dutch:	tevergeefs
Estonian:	kasutu, kasutult
Finnish:	turhaan, hyödytön
French:	sans effet
German:	nutzlos
Greek:	θετικό αποτέλεσμα, όφελος
Hungarian:	hasztalan
Icelandic:	gagn; gagnslaus
Indonesian:	guna, faedah
Italian:	(2) inutile

Japanese:	役にたつ
Latvian:	veltīgi; derīgi
Lithuanian:	perniek
Norwegian:	nytte; nytteløs, til ingen nytte
Polish:	na nic, daremnie
Portuguese (Brazil):	efeito
Portuguese (Portugal):	efeito
Romanian:	în zadar
Russian:	бесполезный
Slovak:	bez výsledku
Slovenian:	brez učinka
Spanish:	en vano, inútil
Swedish:	nytta, till ingen nytta
Turkish:	boşuna, faydasız

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Avail

A*vail"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Availed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Availing.] [OE. availen, fr. F. ? (L. ad) + valoir to be worth, fr. L. valere to be strong, to be worth. See Valiant.]

1. To turn to the advantage of; to be of service to; to profit; to benefit; to help; as, artifices will not avail the sinner in the day of judgment.

O, what avails me now that honor high ! --Milton.

2. To promote; to assist. [Obs.] --Pope.

To avail one's self of, to make use of; take advantage of.

Then shall they seek to avail themselves of names. --Milton.

I have availed myself of the very first opportunity. --Dickens.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Avail

A*vail"\, v. i. To be of use or advantage; to answer the purpose; to have strength, force, or efficacy sufficient to accomplish the object; as, the plea in bar must avail, that is, be sufficient to defeat the suit; this scheme will not avail; medicines will not avail to check the disease. "What signs avail ?" --Milton.

Words avail very little with me, young man. --Sir W. Scott.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Avail

A*vail"\, n. 1. Profit; advantage toward success; benefit; value; as, labor, without economy, is of little avail.

The avail of a deathbed repentance. --Jer. Taylor.

2. pl. Proceeds; as, the avails of a sale by auction.

The avails of their own industry. --Stoddard.

Syn: Use; benefit; utility; profit; service.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Avail

A*vail"\, v. t. & i. See Avale, v. [Obs.] --Spenser.

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