Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “prevailment” come from?

prevailment (English) comes from English prevail, from Middle English prevailen, from Old French prevaler, from Latin praevaleō, from Latin prae-, from Proto-Italic prai-, from Proto-Indo-European preh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European per- — passed , crossed.

prevailment (English): prevalence; superior influence; efficacy

Definitions

  1. prevalence; superior influence; efficacy

Ancestry of “prevailment”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishprevailTo be superior in strength, dominance, influence...
2Middle Englishprevailen—
3Old Frenchprevaler—
4Latinpraevaleō—
5Latinprae-before; in front; in charge
6Proto-Italicprai-—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpreh₂-before, in front
8Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
9Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →