v. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. Ex. xvii. 11. [ 1913 Webster ]

So David prevailed over the Philistine. 1 Sam. xvii. 50. [ 1913 Webster ]

This kingdom could never prevail against the united power of England. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

This custom makes the short-sighted bigots, and the warier skeptics, as far as it prevails. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To persuade or induce; -- with on, upon, or with; as, I prevailedon him to wait. [ 1913 Webster ]

He was prevailed with to restrain the Earl. Clarendon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Prevail upon some judicious friend to be your constant hearer, and allow him the utmost freedom. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Having superior force or influence; efficacious; persuasive. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Saints shall assist thee with prevailing prayers. Rowe. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Predominant; prevalent; most general; as, the prevailing disease of a climate; a prevailing opinion. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. See Prevalent. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. So as to prevail. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Prevalence; superior influence; efficacy. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. praevalentia: cf. F. prévalence. See Prevail. ] The quality or condition of being prevalent; superior strength, force, or influence; general existence, reception, or practice; wide extension; as, the prevalence of virtue, of a fashion, or of a disease; the prevalence of a rumor. [ 1913 Webster ]

The duke better knew what kind of argument were of prevalence with him. Clarendon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Prevalence. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. praevalens, -entis, p. pr. of praevalere. See Prevail. ] 1. Gaining advantage or superiority; having superior force, influence, or efficacy; prevailing; predominant; successful; victorious. [ 1913 Webster ]

Brennus told the Roman embassadors, that prevalent arms were as good as any title. Sir W. Raleigh. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Most generally received or current; most widely adopted or practiced; also, generally or extensively existing; widespread; prevailing; as, a prevalent observance; prevalent disease. [ 1913 Webster ]

This was the most received and prevalent opinion. Woodward. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a prevalent manner. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To evade by a quibble; to transgress; to pervert. [ Obs. ] Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Prevaricated p. pr. & vb. n. Prevaricating. ] [ L. praevaricatus, p. p. of praevaricari to walk crookedly, to collude; prae before + varicare to straddle, fr. varicus straddling, varus bent. See Varicose. ] 1. To shift or turn from one side to the other, from the direct course, or from truth; to speak with equivocation; to shuffle; to quibble; as, he prevaricates in his statement. [ 1913 Webster ]

He prevaricates with his own understanding. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Civil Law) To collude, as where an informer colludes with the defendant, and makes a sham prosecution. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Eng. Law) To undertake a thing falsely and deceitfully, with the purpose of defeating or destroying it. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To evade; equivocate; quibble; shuffle. -- Prevaricate, Evade, Equivocate. One who evades a question ostensibly answers it, but really turns aside to some other point. He who equivocate uses words which have a double meaning, so that in one sense he can claim to have said the truth, though he does in fact deceive, and intends to do it. He who prevaricates talks all round the question, hoping to “dodge” it, and disclose nothing. [ 1913 Webster ]