PREVALENT
prevailing, prevalent, predominant, dominant, rife
(adjective) most frequent or common; “prevailing winds”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Adjective
prevalent (comparative more prevalent, superlative most prevalent)
Widespread or preferred.
Superior in frequency or dominant.
Synonyms
• (widespread): common, rife; see also widespread
Source: Wiktionary
Prev"a*lent, a. Etym: [L. praevalens, -entis, p. pr. of praevalere.
See Prevail.]
1. Gaining advantage or superiority; having superior force,
influence, or efficacy; prevailing; predominant; successful;
victorious.
Brennus told the Roman embassadors, that prevalent arms were as good
as any title. Sir W. Raleigh.
2. Most generally received or current; most widely adopted or
practiced; also, generally or extensively existing; widespread;
prevailing; as, a prevalent observance; prevalent disease.
This was the most received and prevalent opinion. Woodward.
Syn.
– Prevailing; predominant; successful; efficacious; powerful.
– Prevalent, Prevailing. What customarily prevails is prevalent;
as, a prevalent fashion. What actually prevails is prevailing; as,
the prevailing winds are west. Hence, prevailing is the livelier and
more pointed word, since it represents a thing in action. It is
sometimes the stronger word, since a thing may prevail sufficiently
to be called prevalent, and yet require greater strength to make it
actually prevailing.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition