PREVAIL

prevail

(verb) use persuasion successfully; “He prevailed upon her to visit his parents”

prevail, triumph

(verb) prove superior; “The champion prevailed, though it was a hard fight”

predominate, dominate, rule, reign, prevail

(verb) be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance; “Money reigns supreme here”; “Hispanics predominate in this neighborhood”

prevail, persist, die hard, run, endure

(verb) continue to exist; “These stories die hard”; “The legend of Elvis endures”

prevail, hold, obtain

(verb) be valid, applicable, or true; “This theory still holds”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

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.

(intransitive) To be current, widespread or predominant; to have currency or prevalence.

(intransitive) To succeed in persuading or inducing.

(transitive, obsolete) To avail.

Anagrams

• pervial

Source: Wiktionary

Pre*vail", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Prevailed; p. pr. & vb. n. Prevailing.] Etym: [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 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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition