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n. The state or quality of being impreventable; inevitability. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Not preventable; inevitable. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Omni- + prevalent. ] Prevalent everywhere or in all things. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. 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 ]

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

n. [ L. praevaricatio: cf. F. prévarication. ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

The august tribunal of the skies, where no prevarication shall avail. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A secret abuse in the exercise of a public office. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) (a) (Roman Law) The collusion of an informer with the defendant, for the purpose of making a sham prosecution. (b) (Common Law) A false or deceitful seeming to undertake a thing for the purpose of defeating or destroying it. Cowell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. praevaricator: cf. F. prévaricateur. ] 1. One who prevaricates. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Roman Law) A sham dealer; one who colludes with a defendant in a sham prosecution. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One who betrays or abuses a trust. Prynne. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. & i. To prove. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Proof. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. prévenance. ] (Metaph.) A going before; anticipation in sequence or order. “The law of prevenance is simply the well-known law of phenomenal sequence.” Ward. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of anticipating another's wishes, desires, etc., in the way of favor or courtesy; hence, civility; obligingness. [ Obs. ] Sterne. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. [ F. prévenir, L. praevenire. See Prevent. ] To come before; to anticipate; hence, to hinder; to prevent. [ Obs. ] Philips. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of going before; anticipation. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. praeveniens, p. pr. ] Going before; preceding; hence, preventive. “Prevenient grace descending.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prevented; p. pr. & vb. n. Preventing. ] [ L. praevenire, praeventum; prae before + venire to come. See Come. ] 1. To go before; to precede; hence, to go before as a guide; to direct. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 1 Thess. iv. 15. [ 1913 Webster ]

We pray thee that thy grace may always prevent and follow us. Bk. of Common Prayer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Then had I come, preventing Sheba's queen. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To be beforehand with; to anticipate. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Their ready guilt preventing thy commands. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To intercept; to hinder; to frustrate; to stop; to thwart. “This vile purpose to prevent.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Perhaps forestalling night prevented them. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To come before the usual time. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Strawberries . . . will prevent and come early. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being preventable. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being prevented or hindered; as, preventable diseases. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. That which prevents; -- incorrectly used instead of preventive. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who goes before; one who forestalls or anticipates another. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who prevents or obstructs; a hinderer; that which hinders; as, a preventer of evils or of disease. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Naut.) An auxiliary rope to strengthen a mast. [ 1913 Webster ]

Preventer bolts, or
Preventer plates (Naut.), fixtures connected with preventers to reënforce other rigging. --
Preventer stay. (Naut.) Same as Preventer, 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. So as to prevent or hinder. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. prévention. ] 1. The act of going, or state of being, before. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The greater the distance, the greater the prevention. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Anticipation; esp., anticipation of needs or wishes; hence, precaution; forethought. [ Obs. ] Hammond. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The act of preventing or hindering; obstruction of action, access, or approach; thwarting. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Prejudice; prepossession. [ A Gallicism ] Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Tending to prevent. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. préventif. ] 1. Going before; preceding. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Any previous counsel or preventive understanding. Cudworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Tending to defeat or hinder; obviating; preventing the access of; as, a medicine preventive of disease. [ 1913 Webster ]

Physic is either curative or preventive. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

Preventive service, the duty performed by the armed police in guarding the coast against smuggling. [ Eng ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. That which prevents, hinders, or obstructs; that which intercepts access; in medicine, something to prevent disease; a prophylactic. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a preventive manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Anat.) Situated immediately in front, or on the ventral side, of the vertebral column; prespinal. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. praevius going before, leading the way; prae before + via the way. See Voyage. ] Going before in time; being or happening before something else; antecedent; prior; as, previous arrangements; a previous illness. [ 1913 Webster ]

The dull sound . . . previous to the storm,
Rolls o'er the muttering earth. Thomson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Previous question. (Parliamentary Practice) See under Question, and compare Closure. --
Previous to, before; -- often used adverbially for previously. “Previous to publication.” M. Arnold. “A policy . . . his friends had advised previous to 1710.” J. H. Newman. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Antecedent; preceding; anterior; prior; foregoing; former. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Beforehand; antecedently; as, a plan previously formed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being previous; priority or antecedence in time. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. praevisus, p. p. of praevidere to foresee; prae before + videre to see. See Vision. ] 1. To foresee. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To inform beforehand; to warn. Ld. Lytton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. prévision. ] Foresight; foreknowledge; prescience. H. Spencer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. prévoyant. ] Foreseeing; prescient. [ R. ] Mrs. Oliphant. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Reprovable. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ See Reprieve, v. t. ] To reprove. [ Obs. ] “Repreve him of his vice.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Reproof. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Not prevented or hindered; as, unprevented sorrows. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Not preceded by anything. [ Obs. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

See accommodating.
See aching.
See ailing.
See aiming.
See alarming.
See altering.
See appreciating.
See approving.
See aspiring.
See assisting.
See attempting.
See attending.
See bearing.
See befitting.
See beginning.
See believing.
See bleaching.
See bleeding.
See blemishing.
See blenching.
See blossoming.
See blushing.
See boding.
See branching.
See breathing.
See burning.
See calculating.
See ceasing.
See changing.
See charming.
See communicating.
See complaining.
See complying.
See conceiving.
See conducing.
See confessing.
See conniving.
See consenting.
See considering.
See conspiring.
See consulting.
See consuming.
See contending.
See contriving.
See conversing.
See convincing.
See dawning.
See decaying.
See delaying.
See depending.
See derogating.
See deserving.
See desiring.
See despairing.
See detesting.
See deviating.
See differencing.
See discerning.
See discording.
See discriminating.
See disobliging.
See dispensing.
See dissembling.
See dissolving.
See distinguishing.
See distracting.
See disturbing.
See doubting.
See dreading.
See drooping.
See ebbing.
See echoing.
See edifying.
See ending.
See enduring.
See engaging.
See enjoying.
See entering.
See enterprising.
See entertaining.
See envying.
See existing.
See fadging.
See fading.
See fainting.
See faltering.
See fearing.
See feigning.
See fighting.
See fitting.
See flagging.
See flattering.
See flinching.
See folding.
See forbearing.
See foreboding.
See foreseeing.
See forgiving.
See giving.
See grudging.
See harming.
See heeding.
See hesitating.
See hoping.
See hurting.
See importing.
See imposing.
See improving.
See interesting.
See intermitting.
See intoxicating.
See inviting.
See jarring.
See laboring.
See lingering.
See listening.
See loving.
See meddling.
See meriting.
See mistrusting.
See moving.
See murmuring.
See obliging.
See observing.
See offending.
See opening.
See pardoning.
See paying.
See perceiving.
See performing.
See perishing.
See pitying.
See pleasing.
See possessing.
See preaching.
See prepossessing.
See presuming.
See pretending.
See prevailing.
See prevaricating.
See profiting.
See promising.
See proving.
See quailing.
See questioning.
See reasoning.
See recalling.
See reclining.
See recurring.
See referring.
See reflecting.
See refunding.
See refusing.
See rejoicing.
See relaxing.
See relishing.
See remembering.
See repenting.
See repining.
See reproving.
See repulsing.
See resisting.
See resolving.
See resting.
See returning.
See rewarding.
See sanctifying.
See satisfying.
See searching.
See seeing.
See setting.
See shrinking.
See sinking.
See sleeping.
See slipping.
See slumbering.
See speaking.
See stinting.
See stirring.
See stooping.
See submitting.
See sufficing.
See suiting.
See surging.
See suspecting.
See sweating.
See swerving.
See sympathizing.
See tasting.
See thriving.
See tiring.
See toiling.
See trading.
See trembling.
See trespassing.
See trifling.
See vacillating.
See varying.
See walking.
See wandering.
See waning.
See wasting.
See wavering.
See weeping.
See winking.
See winning.
See withdrawing.
See withering.
See wondering.
See working.
See writing.
See yielding.
----- and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

The above classes of words are unlimited in extent, and such compounds may be formed by any writer or speaker at will from almost all the adjectives or participles in the language, excepting those which have a recognized and usual negative correspondent with the prefix -in. No attempt will be made, therefore, to define them all in this Dictionary; many will be omitted from its Vocabulary which are negations of the simple word, and are readily explained by prefixing a not to the latter. Derivatives of these words in -ly and -ness will also, for the most part, be omitted for the same or similar reasons. [ 1913 Webster ]

There will be inserted as separate articles with definitions, the following: -- [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Those which have acquired an opposed or contrary, instead of a merely negative, meaning; as, unfriendly, ungraceful, unpalatable, unquiet, and the like; or else an intensive sense more than a prefixed not would express; as, unending, unparalleled, undisciplined, undoubted, unsafe, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Those which have the value of independent words, inasmuch as the simple words are either not used at all, or are rarely, or at least much less frequently, used; as, unavoidable, unconscionable, undeniable, unspeakable, unprecedented, unruly, and the like; or inasmuch as they are used in a different sense from the usual meaning of the primitive, or especially in one of the significations of the latter; as, unaccountable, unalloyed, unbelieving, unpretending, unreserved, and the like; or inasmuch as they are so frequently and familiarly used that they are hardly felt to be of negative origin; as, uncertain, uneven, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Those which are anomalous, provincial, or, for some other reason, not desirable to be used, and are so indicated; as, unpure for impure, unsatisfaction for dissatisfaction, unexpressible for inexpressible, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

II. Un- is prefixed to nouns to express the absence of, or the contrary of, that which the noun signifies; as, unbelief, unfaith, unhealth, unrest, untruth, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Compounds of this last class are given in full in their proper order in the Vocabulary. [ 1913 Webster ]