PREVAILING
prevailing, prevalent, predominant, dominant, rife
(adjective) most frequent or common; “prevailing winds”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Adjective
prevailing (comparative more prevailing, superlative most prevailing)
Predominant; of greatest force.
Prevalent, common, widespread.
Synonyms
• (prevalent, common, widespread): pervasive, ubiquitous; see also widespread
Verb
prevailing
present participle of prevail
Source: Wiktionary
Pre*vail"ing, a.
1. Having superior force or influence; efficacious; persuasive. Shak.
Saints shall assist thee with prevailing prayers. Rowe.
2. Predominant; prevalent; most general; as, the prevailing disease
of a climate; a prevailing opinion.
Syn. See Prevalent.
PREVAIL
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