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prevail

 [pri-veyl]   Example Sentences Origin

pre·vail

   [pri-veyl]
verb (used without object)
1.
to be widespread or current; exist everywhere or generally: Silence prevailed along the funeral route.
2.
to appear or occur as the more important or frequent feature or element; predominate: Green tints prevail in the upholstery.
3.
to be or prove superior in strength, power, or influence (usually followed by over): They prevailed over their enemies in the battle.
4.
to succeed; become dominant; win out: to wish that the right side might prevail.
5.
to use persuasion or inducement successfully: He prevailed upon us to accompany him.
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English prevayllen to grow very strong < Latin praevalēre to be more able, equivalent to prae- pre- + valēre to be strong; see prevalent

Related forms
pre·vail·er, noun

Synonyms
2. preponderate. 3. overcome.

Antonyms
3. lose.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Prevail is one of our favorite verbs.
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to spend time idly; loaf.
chat, to converse
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Example Sentences
  • They ought to be sancturaries where reason and logic prevail.
  • Time for rational and cool minds to prevail.
  • Nucleators let crystallization happen in the less extreme conditions that prevail in much of Earth's troposphere.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
prevail (prɪˈveɪl)
 
—vb (often foll by over or against) (often foll by on or upon)
1.  to prove superior; gain mastery: skill will prevail
2.  to be or appear as the most important feature; be prevalent
3.  to exist widely; be in force
4.  to succeed in persuading or inducing
 
[C14: from Latin praevalēre to be superior in strength, from prae beyond + valēre to be strong]
 
pre'vailer
 
—n

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

prevail
late 14c., from L. prævalere "have greater power," from præ "before" + valere "have power, be strong" (see valiant).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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