[pre.vail] vi [ME, fr. L praevalere, fr. prae- pre- + valere to be strong--more at wield] (15c) 1: to gain ascendancy through strength or superiority: triumph
2: to be or become effective or effectual
3: to use persuasion successfully "~ed on him to sing"
4: to be frequent: predominate "the west winds that ~ in the mountains"
5: to be or continue in use or fashion: persist "a custom that still ~s"