Category:Avail

A*vail", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Availed (p. pr. & vb. n. Availing.] Etym: [OE. availen, fr. F. ad) + valoir to be worth, fr. L. valere to be strong, to be worth. See Valiant.]

1. To turn to the advantage of; to be of service to; to profit; to benefit; to help; as, artifices will not avail the sinner in the day of judgment. O, what avails me now that honor high ! Milton.

2. To promote; to assist. [Obs.] Pope. To avail one's self of, to make use of; take advantage of. Then shall they seek to avail themselves of names. Milton. I have availed myself of the very first opportunity. Dickens.

A*vail", v. i.

Defn: To be of use or advantage; to answer the purpose; to have strength, force, or efficacy sufficient to accomplish the object; as, the plea in bar must avail, that is, be sufficient to defeat the suit; this scheme will not avail; medicines will not avail to check the disease. "What signs avail " Milton. Words avail very little with me, young man. Sir W. Scott.

A*vail", n.

1. Profit; advantage toward success; benefit; value; as, labor, without economy, is of little avail. The avail of a deathbed repentance. Jer. Taylor.

2. pl.

Defn: Proceeds; as, the avails of a sale by auction. The avails of their own industry. Stoddard.

Syn.

-- Use; benefit; utility; profit; service.

A*vail", v. t. & i.

Defn: See Avale, v. [Obs.] Spenser.