prevail

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.

verb

1. (intransitive) To be superior in strength, dominance, influence, or frequency; to have or gain the advantage over others; to have the upper hand; to outnumber others.
   Red colour prevails in the Canadian flag.
   Liverpool created a host of chances and had a Joel Matip goal ruled out for a foul and offside in an incident-packed game that went right down to the wire before Jurgen Klopp's side prevailed. February 27, 2022, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport
2. (intransitive) To triumph; to be victorious.
   There are a number of SCPs and tales that look at potential apocalypses, but rarely with such totality as SCP-2935, a parallel dimension in which death prevailed. 14 January 2019, “Exploring the SCP Foundation: SCP-2935 - O, Death” (0:36 from the start), in The Exploring Series, archived from the original on 2023-03-25
3. (intransitive) To be current, widespread, or predominant; to have currency or prevalence.
   In his day and age, such practices prevailed all over Europe.
4. (intransitive) To succeed in persuading or inducing.
   I prevailed on him to wait.
   Jones began to be very importunate with the lady to unmask; and at length having prevailed, there appeared not Mrs Fitzpatrick, but the Lady Bellaston herself. 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
5. (transitive, obsolete) To avail.