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prevailmore about prevail

prevail

 

  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Prevail  \Pre*vail"\,  v.  i.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Prevailed};  p.  pr  & 
  vb  n.  {Prevailing}.]  [F.  pr['e]valoir,  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  day 
 
  This  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 
  prevailedon  him  to  wait. 
 
  He  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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  prevail 
  v  1:  be  larger  in  number,  quantity,  or  importance;  "Money  reigns 
  supreme  here";  "Hispanics  predominate  in  this 
  neighborhood"  [syn:  {predominate},  {dominate},  {rule},  {reign}] 
  2:  be  valid,  applicable,  or  true;  "This  theory  still  holds" 
  [syn:  {hold},  {obtain}] 
  3:  cease  to  exist  after  resistance  or  a  struggle;  "These 
  stories  die  hard"  [syn:  {persist},  {die  hard},  {run},  {endure}] 
  4:  prove  superior;  "The  champion  prevailed,  though  it  was  a 
  hard  fight"  [syn:  {triumph}] 
  5:  use  persuasion  successfully;  "He  prevailed  upon  her  to  visit 
  his  parents"




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