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3 definitions found

From: DICT.TW English-Chinese Dictionary 英漢字典

 pre·vail /prɪˈve(ə)l/
 (v.)壓倒,占上風,占優勢;說服,勸說

From: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

 Pre·vail v. i. [imp. & p. p. Prevailed p. pr. & vb. n. Prevailing.]
 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.
    When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.   --Ex. xvii. 11.
    So David prevailed over the Philistine.   --1 Sam. xvii. 50.
    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.
 

From: WordNet (r) 2.0

 prevail
      v 1: be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance;
           "Money reigns supreme here"; "Hispanics predominate in
           this neighborhood" [syn: predominate, dominate, rule,
            reign]
      2: be valid, applicable, or true; "This theory still holds"
         [syn: hold, obtain]
      3: continue to exist; "These stories die hard"; "The legend of
         Elvis endures" [syn: persist, die hard, run, endure]
      4: prove superior; "The champion prevailed, though it was a
         hard fight" [syn: triumph]
      5: use persuasion successfully; "He prevailed upon her to visit
         his parents"