Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Prevailing
Pre-vail′ing
,Adj.
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
. Webster 1828 Edition
Prevailing
PREVA'ILING
,ppr.
1.
a. Predominant; having more influence; prevalent; superior in power. The love of money and the love of power are the prevailing passions of men.2.
Efficacious. Saints shall assist thee with prevailing prayers.
3.
Predominant; most general; as the prevailing disease of a climate; a prevailing opinion. Intemperance is the prevailing vice of many countries.Definition 2024
prevailing
prevailing
English
Adjective
prevailing (comparative more prevailing, superlative most prevailing)
- Predominant; of greatest force.
- The prevailing opinion was for additional planning time.
- c. 1700, William Congreve, The Way of the World, reprinted in 1797, John Bell, Bell's British Theatre, Volume 33, page 37 (within play),
- He has a humour more prevailing than his curiosity, and will willingly dispense with the hearing of one scandalous story, to avoid giving an occasion to make another, by being seen to walk with his wife.
- 1807, Daniel Defoe, The Life and Most Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner, page 187,
- […] and as merciful counſels are moſt prevailing when earneſtly preſſed, ſo I got them to be of the ſame opinion as to clemency.
- 1826, House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons Papers, Volume 17, page 411,
- I have heard generally that alderman Archer has a more prevailing and powerful influence in the commons than any other alderman, and exercises that influence ;
- Prevalent, common, widespread.
- 1829, James Annesley, Sketches of the Most Prevalent Diseases of India, page 247,
- Fever and dysentery are the most prevailing diseases in this division, more particularly the latter, which is one of the most destructive amongst the troops in India, and particularly so in the European constitution.
- 1832, David Brewster, Spain, entry in The Edinburgh Encyclopaedia, Volume 17, page 371,
- One of the most prevailing defects in this people is their invincible indolence, and hatred of labour, which has, at all times, paralysed the government of their best princes, and impeded the success of their most brilliant enterprises.
- 1940, Australian Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics, Official Year Book of the Commonwealth of Australia No. 33 - 1940, page 49,
- In Sydney at 9 am, by far the most prevailing wind is a westerly, particularly during the colder two-thirds of the year.
- 1829, James Annesley, Sketches of the Most Prevalent Diseases of India, page 247,
Verb
prevailing
- present participle of prevail