Where does “prevail” come from?
Prevail comes from Middle English prevailen, from Old French prevaler, from Latin praevaleo, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning to go or pass through.
prevail (English): To be superior in strength, dominance, influence...
Definitions
- To be superior in strength, dominance, influence...
Ancestry of “prevail”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | prevailen | — |
| 2 | Old French | prevaler | — |
| 3 | Latin | praevaleō | to be very able or more able; to be superior, prevail |
| 4 | Latin | prae- | before; in front; in charge |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | prai- | pre-, before |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | preh₂- | before, in front |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |