v. a·vailed, a·vail·ing, a·vails v.tr. To be of use or advantage to; help: Nothing could avail the dying patient. v.intr. To be of use, value, or advantage; serve: Halfway measures will no longer avail. n. Idiom: Use, benefit, or advantage: labored to no avail. avail (oneself) of To make use of. [Middle English availen : a-, intensive pref. (from Latin ad-; see AD-) + Old French valoir, vail-, to be worth (from Latin valēre, to be strong; see wal- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots).] a·vailing·ly adv. |
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