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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Prevail(l, Preval(e, Prevel(e, Pravail, v. Also: prevaile, -waill, -waile, praevaill; prewal(e; prevell, preveal(l; pravale, -vill; pervale; Privela. [ME and e.m.E. prevayle (Trevisa), prevail(e (1422), -vaylle (c 1450), e.m.E. also prevale (1586), L. prævalēre, F. prévaloir (15–16th c. in Godef.).]

1. intr. To become very strong, grow in power. a1500 Colk. Sow ii 93.
This in France fell … Or it prevelit planeist and popelus, Quhair now Pareis citie is situat a1538 Abell 109 b.
Thotht he had aduersite in his begynnyng neuir the les he prewalit eftir

2. a. To be successful in a contest, dispute or competition, to get the upper hand, gain the mastery or ascendancy, be victorious.Of persons, also of military or naval forces.Also const. agane, aganis or contrare (an adversary).(1) a1538 Abell 117 a.
First … he inducit [them] … to cum with thare power bot thai prewalit nocht 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1784.
Thir twa to fecht began, … that it was greit meruaill Quhilk of the twa … suld preuaill 1567 G. Ball. 90. a1568 Bann. MS 83 a/101.
This tyme thow sall obtene; that tyme thow sall nocht prevaill a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 366 (L).
Prevellis a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 190.
He … dissassentit tharunto with tearis, bot he pravailit na thing 1600-1610 Melvill 405. a1605 Montg. Devot. P. iii 24.
When it cam in votting the number of the Northland ministers and Angus prevealed c1610 Melville Mem. 130.
In hope that he suld preuaill being present, before Leycester that was absent 1614 Glasgow Trades House 53.
Ane … prevaillit be pluralitie of voitts(2) 1535 Stewart 7715.
Trowand … Vnpossibill wer agane him to prevaill a1538 Abell 84 b.
He preualit als aganis the ympriour 1567 G. Ball. 45.
His sweit word … Contrair the quhilk can not preuaill Sathan 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 46.
The Chamæleon … cled himself onelie in the quenis colouris vntill that Dauid prevalit aganis him 1571 J. Maitland Sat. P. xxvii 52 (M).
Prewaill [v.r. prewaile] 1563-72 Ferg. Tracts 76.
Preuailit(3) a1578 Pitsc. I 227/8.
The Scottis scheipis prevaillit [1814 prevealed] at the length

b. To be or become superior in strength or influence, to gain the ascendancy, to prove more successful.Of things, chiefly abstract qualities, sometimes personified.Also const. aganis (a person or an opposing force of some kind). a1500 Henr. III 156/11 (Bann.).
Na erdly stait aganis deid ma prevaill a1500 Colk. Sow ii 185.
Presome nevir bot povert may prewaill a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 470 (Asl.).
Prevale c1520-c1535 Nisbet I 6.
Than sall na seditiounn preval a1568 Bellenden Bann. MS 8 a/322.
Quhen natur nocht prevailis … No medecyne the patient availis a1538 Abell 6* a.
Hengestis fraud prevalyt a ganys the Britonaris c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4460. a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 134/31. a1570-86 Arbuthnot Maitl. F. xxx 26.
Flatrie preuales, treuth makis inemitie a1570-86 J. Maitland Maitl. F. lxxxviii 71. 1567 Sat. P. v 120.
This actioun haill sa honest is With Godis grace it sall preuaill a1578 Pitsc. I 145/21.
Thair was ane bairne borne … in quhome mans nature did prevaill bot [etc.] 1619 Tayler Hist. Fam. Urquhart 32.
He feiris thair moyane & credeit sall prewaill

c. To gain mastery or influence over. c1590 Fowler I 64/184.
I saw … Fals Opinioun at the port that dois ower myndis prewaill

3. tr. To be superior to, to surpass, excel (another) in, into or at (a quality or activity).This sense only Sc. c1515 Asl. MS I 309/26.
Neuer man prevalit him in laubour & slayng of monstouris 1535 Stewart 26084.
Displesit wes the nobillis … That sic ane man of law birth … Sould thame prevaill into so grit honour 1560 Rolland Seven S. 232.
Seuin wysest men … Quhilkis in learning all vther thay preuaill Ib. 920.
Ane ȝoung prentyse … Be quick ingyne [etc.] … He may preuaill his maister at the merk

4. intr. To achieve one's or its aims, be efficacious, succeed. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 901.
Sathan … to the woman first he went Traistyng the better to preuaill 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 82.
And ȝit thay preuaillit nathing be it [sc. the inquiry] 1572–3 Events Q. Mary & Jas. VI 160.
No myndinge can prevaile in this rocke [Edinburgh Castle] but only battery 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xlii 635.
Gif this ordour preuaill a1605 Montg. Flyt. 431 (H).
Throgh the poysone of that podde, our partiquies prevaill c1590 Fowler I 119/32.
And to my flight ioyne double wingis that I may more prewaill [: ȝeill] 1596 James VI Facs. Nat. MSS III lxxiii.
Sen argumentis maye na maire praeuaill

b. Const. infin.: To succeed (in doing something). 1531 Bell. Boece xi.
No influence nor sterris may prevaill To regne on me with infortunite 1675 Edinb. B. Rec. X 253.
Seaverall persones who hes served but one year as deacon of ane kirk … prevaills to gett themselves leitted to be elders

c. To prevail with (a person), to succeed in persuading or inducing. 1611 Crim. Trials III 159.
He did so muche pervale with him, that … the father wes broght to … contritioun 1653 Hossack Kirkwall 254.
I doubt nocht bot he will preueall with the rest to do you reasone 1666 Laing MSS. I 351.
If hee prevell with the king I hop you will … get the chanslerie for my comer 1687 Dunlop P. III 42.
I can pravill with no servant to com alongst

5. reflex. To be of use or benefit to, to profit. = Avail v. 2.Only in Lyndsay. 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 556.
His heych prudence preualit hym nocht ane myte Ib. 582.
The flude of superfluitie Off his ryches … Preualit hym not

b. impers. c1520-c1535 Nisbet III 318/9.
Quhat pravaleith it now that [etc.]