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.
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.
Pre*vail"ing*ly, adv. So as to prevail.
Pre*vail"ment (?), n. Prevalence; superior influence; efficacy. [Obs.]
Shak.
Prev"a*lence (?), n. [L. praevalentia: cf. F. prÈvalence. 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.
The duke better knew what kind of argument were of prevalence with
him.
Clarendon.
Prev"a*len*cy (?), n. See Prevalence.
Prev"a*lent (?), 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.
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.
Prev"a*lent"ly, adv. In a prevalent manner. Prior.
Pre*var"i*cate (?), 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.
He prevaricates with his own understanding.
South.
2. (Civil Law) To collude, as where an informer colludes with the
defendant, and makes a sham prosecution.
3. (Eng. Law) To undertake a thing falsely and deceitfully, with the
purpose of defeating or destroying it.
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.
Pre*var"i*cate, v. t. To evade by a quibble; to transgress; to pervert.
[Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
Pre*var`i*ca"tion (?), n. [L. praevaricatio: cf. F. prÈvarication.] 1.
The act of prevaricating, shuffling, or quibbling, to evade the truth
or the disclosure of truth; a deviation from the truth and fair
dealing.
The august tribunal of the skies, where no prevarication shall
avail.
Cowper.