Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Prevail
Pre-vail′
,Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Prevailed
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Prevailing
.] [F.
prévaloir
, 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.
When Moses held up his hand, Israel
prevailed
, and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed
. Ex. xvii. 11.
So David
prevailed
over the Philistine. 1 Sam. xvii. 50.
This kingdom could never
prevail
against the united power of England
. Swift.
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 dayThis custom makes the short-sighted bigots, and the warier skeptics, as far as it
prevails
. Locke.
3.
To persuade or induce; – with on, upon, or with;
as, I
. prevailed
on him to waitHe was
prevailed
with to restrain the Earl. Clarendon.
Prevail
upon some judicious friend to be your constant hearer, and allow him the utmost freedom. Swift.
Webster 1828 Edition
Prevail
PREVA'IL
,Verb.
I.
1.
To overcome; to gain the victory or superiority; to gain the advantage. When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. Ex.17.
With over or against.
David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone. 1 Sam.17.
This kingdom could never prevail against the united power of England.
2.
To be in force; to have effect; power or influence. This custom makes the short-sighted bigots and the warier skeptics, as far as ir prevails.
3.
To be predominant; to extend over with force or effect. The fever prevailed in a great part of the city.4.
To gain or have predominant influence; to operate with effect. These reasons, arguments or motives ought to prevail with all candid men. In this sense, it is followed by with.5.
To persuade or induce; with on or upon. They prevailed on the president to ratify the treaty. It is also followed by with. They could not prevail with the king to pardon the offender. But on is more common in modern practice.6.
To succeed. The general attempted to take the fort by assault, but did not prevail. The most powerful arguments were employed,but they did not prevail.Definition 2024
prevail
prevail
English
Verb
prevail (third-person singular simple present prevails, present participle prevailing, simple past and past participle prevailed)
- (intransitive) To be superior in strength, dominance, influence or frequency; to have or gain the advantage over others; to have the upper hand; to outnumber others.
- Red colour prevails in the Canadian flag.
- 1611, Bible (KJV):, Exodus 17:11
- And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
- (intransitive) To be current, widespread or predominant; to have currency or prevalence.
- In his day and age, such practices prevailed all over Europe.
- (intransitive) To succeed in persuading or inducing.
- I prevailed on him to wait.
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
To be superior in strength, dominance, influence or frequency; to have or gain the advantage over others; to have the upper hand
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To be current, widespread or predominant; to have currency or prevalence
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To succeed in persuading or inducing
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