## Meanings
1. To win or be successful in a struggle or competition.
2. To be common or widespread at a particular time or place.
3. To succeed in persuading someone to do something.

## Examples
- The champion prevailed after a long, hard fight.
- Such customs prevailed all over Europe in those days.
- I prevailed on him to wait a little longer.

## Derived Forms
- prevailer
- prevailment

## Related Forms
- prevalence
- prevalent

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *h₂welh₁-
- Root: prevailen
- Root: prevaler
- Root: praevaleō

## Etymology
From Middle English prevailen, from Old French prevaler, from Latin praevaleō (“be very able or more able, be superior, prevail”), from prae (“before”) + valeō (“be able or powerful”). Displaced native Old English rīcsian.

## AI Etymology
Prevail comes from Middle English prevailen, from Old French prevaler, from Latin praevaleō (“be very able or more able, be superior, prevail”), from prae (“before”) + valeō (“be able or powerful”). Displaced native Old English rīcsian. In present-day English it covers to win or be successful in a struggle or competition, to be common or widespread at a particular time or place, and to succeed in persuading someone to do something. The wider family includes derived forms such as prevailer, prevailment and related forms such as prevalence, prevalent.

## Topics
- Space, Position & Direction

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