prevalence 
w utueral occurrence, practice, or reception ; extensive 
existence or use : as, the pnvaltncr of a custom or of a 
disease. 
prevalency (prev'a-len-si), w. [As jtrevalence 
(see -rv).J Same as prevalence . 
It Is not necessary to the prevalency of the prayer that 
the spirit actually accompany every clause or word. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), I. 231. 
prevalent (prev'a-lent), a. [= Sp. prevalente 
Pg. preralfcruie = It. prerali-tite, < L. pnerti- 
/>(), very strong, superior in power, preva- 
lent, ppr. of prievalerc, be very able or more 
able: see prevail.] 1. Of such a character as 
to prevail; superior in power or might; con- 
trolling; ruling. 
Brennus told the Roman Embassadors that prevalent 
arms were as good as any title. Raleigh. 
Piety was so prevalent an Ingredient In her constitution 
[that] . . . she no sooner became intimately acquainted, 
but she would endeavour to Improve them, by insinuating 
something of religious. Evelyn, Diary, March 10, 1685. 
The tribunes and people, having now subdued all com- 
petitors, began the last game of a prevalent populace. 
Strt.it, Nobles aud Commons, Hi. 
The preralent wish to be better constitutes the being 
better. T. H. Green. Prolegomena to Ethics, f 110. 
2. Influential; possessed of moral weight or 
authority. 
Thus, niv Lord, to perform your Commands, which are 
very preralent with me, have I couched In this Letter what 
I could of the Condition of the Jews. 
HomU, Letters, I. vl. 14. 
The King, highly displeas'd, and instigated perhaps by 
her who was prevalent with him, not long after sent Dun- 
stan Into Banishment. Milton, Hist Eng., v. 
What art so prevalent, what proof so strong, 
That will convince him his attempt is wrong? 
Crabbc, Works, I. 154. 
3. Effective; efficacious; productive of results, 
particularly of results desired. 
A kind of Rue Is here, . . . not onely a preservative 
against infection, but . . . prevalent against hurtfull spir 
Its. Sandyt, Travalles, p. 98. 
4. Wide-spread; current; of wide extent, oc- 
currence, practice, or acceptance : as, a preva- 
lent belief; a prevalent custom. 
His mind had not escaped the prevalent error of the 
primitive church, the belief, namely, that the second com 
ing of Christ would shortly occur. Kinenon, Misc., p. :iO. 
= 8yn. 1 and 2. Prevalent, Prevailing, Predominant, Jtul- 
iny. liuliivi In this connection refers to moral ascendancy : 
as, a rulini/ fashion set by a reigning belle. Prevalent anil 
l>r< i-tnliifi are sometimes the same, and In two senses, 
that of exceeding In strength, as the prevalent (or pre- 
vailiny) opinion was against action, and that of existing 
widely, as scarlet fever is a prevalent (or prevailing) dis- 
temper. The habitual is more likely to l>e expressed by 
prevalent ; the present or actual, sometimes the tempo- 
rary, by jrrevailiwj : as, the precaUiny fashion. The words 
are weaker and less exact than rvliwj predominant Is the 
strongest of all. Predominant implies activity, and actual 
or figurative effort after leadership on the part of that 
which Is predominated over: as, a predominant faction: 
a predominant opinion Is one that seems to put down all 
others. 4. Cointnon, Prevalent, etc. See common. 
prevalently (prev'a-lent-li). ndr. 1. Prevail- 
ingly; powerfully; 'with predominance or su- 
periority. 2. Currently; generally. 
prevalyt, adr. A Middle English form ot privily. 
prevaricate (pre-var'i-kat), r.; pret.andpp.jxr- 
varicnted, ppr. prevaricating. [< L. prtrrarica- 
tus, pp. of prtrraricari, LL. also in active form 
preeearicarr ( > It. prevaricarc = Pg. 8p. preta- 
ricar = OF. prrtaricr, prevariijuer, F. prcvari- 
giier), walk crookedly, collude, prevaricate, as 
an advocate, LL. also transgress, ML., in gen- 
eral, use deceit or concealment, etc., < L. prx, 
before, + raricare, straddle, < variciu, with feet 
spread apart, < varun, bent inward, awry: see 
varicose. Cf. divaricate] I. intraas. If, To 
deviate; swerve from the normal or proper 
course ; stray. 
When these clrcumstants shall but live to see 
The time that I prevaricate from thee. 
Herrick, Welcome to Hack. 
How widely they differ and prccarieatf from the whole- 
some precepts and doctrine delivered from those Holy 
Oracles. Evelyn, True Religion, II. 306. 
2. To swerve from the truth ; act or speak eva- 
sively; quibble. 
I would think IK-HIT of himself than that he would wil- 
fully prevaricate. StOlinyJIect. 
Prevaricate u often as you can defend the prevarication, 
being clow pressed ; but, my dear Canning, . . . never He. 
Landor, Mr. Pitt and Mr. Canning. 
3(. \nlnii-: (a) To undertake a thing falsely and 
deceitful! v, with the purpose of defeat ing or de- 
stroying the object winch it is professed to pro- 
mote. (6) To lictiay thf cause of a client, atpl 
liy collusion assist his opponent. 
Il.t traim. 1. To pervert; cause to deviate- 
from the normal or proper path, application, or 
meaning. 
4716 
If we consider only them [schismatics], better had It 
been for the English nation tluit It |the Bible] had still 
remained In the original Ureek and Hebrew, or at least in 
the honest Latin of St. Jerome, than that several texts in 
It should have lieen prevaricated to the destruction of that 
government which put It into so ungrateful hands. 
Hrt/.lrn, Keliglo Lalcl, Pref. 
2. To transgress ; violate. 
Men dare not prevaricate their duty, though they be 
tempted strongly. Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 135), I. 069. 
prevarication (pre-var-i-ka'shon), n. [= F. 
prevarication = Sp. prevarication = Pfg.prerari- 
ca^So = It. prmaricazione, < ii. pi'smaricatio(n-), 
a stepping out of the line (of duty or propriety), 
violation of duty, prevarication, < jtrtetaricari, 
pp. prsevaricatug, walk cropkedlv, prevaricate: 
see prevaricate.] 1. The act of" prevaricating 
or deviating, especially from truth, honesty, or 
plain-dealing; evasion of truth or duty ; quib- 
bling or shuffling in words or conduct. 
Th' august tribunal of the skies, 
Where no prevarication shall avail, 
Where eloquence and artifice shall fall. 
Coieptr, Retirement, 1. 857. 
The prevarication and white lies which a mind thatkeeps 
itself ambitiously pure is . . . uneasy under . . . are worn 
as lightly as mere trimmings when once the actions have 
become a lie. (Jeorye Eliot, Silas Maruer, xlli. 
2f. Transgression; violation: as, the prevari- 
cation of a law. 
In our pnrariraiionx. and easy betraying*, and surren- 
dering of ourselves to the enemy of his (God's) kingdom, 
Satan, we are his enemies. Donne, Sermons, vii. 
The prevarications of the natural law have also their 
portion of a special punishment, besides the scourge 
of an unquiet spirit. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1885), I. 10, Pref. 
But on holl-dayes men ever)' where runnc to the ale- 
house, to playes, to enterlndes, and dances, to the very de 
rision of < H H! s name, and the prevarication of the day. 
Prynne, Hlstrlo-Mastlx, I., vL li 
3. A secret abuse in the exercise of a public 
office or commission. 4t. In laic: (a) The con- 
duct of an advocate who betrayed the cause of 
his client, and by collusion assisted his oppo- 
nent. (It) The undertaking of a thing falsely, 
with intent to defeat the object which it was 
professed to promote, (r) The wilful conceal- 
ment or misrepresentation of truth by giving 
evasive and equivocating evidence. =8yn. 1. 
Kqitivocatwn, fth\ft, etc. 8ee crouton. 
prevaricator (pre-var'i-ka-tor), H. [= F. prt- 
raricatfur = Pr. 8p. Pg. preraiicador = It. pre- 
raricatore, < L. prtrraricator, one who violates 
his duty: see prevaricate.] 1. One who pre- 
varicates; a shuffler; a quibbler. 
This petty prevaricator of America, the zanle of Colum- 
bus (for so ne must lie till his worlds endX having rambl'd 
over the huge topography of his own Tain thoughts, no 
marvel! if he Ill-ought us home nothing but a meer tan- 
kard drollery. Milton, Apology for .Siuectymnuus. 
2f. One who acts with unfaithfulness Hud want 
of probity ; one who abuses a trust. 
The law which isnromnlged against prevaricaton. 
Prtinne, Treachery ana Disloyalty, p. HIO, App. 
The civilian* define a prevaricator to be one that betrays 
his cause to the adversary and turns on the criminal's side, 
whom he ought to prosecute. 
Kcnnet, Rom. Antiquities, II. Ul. 18. 
3. Formerly, at the University of Cambridge, 
England, the opponent of the inceptor at com- 
mencement. He delivered a prefatory oration, 
freely satirizing prominent individuals. 
Was spent In hearing several exercises In the scholes, 
and after dinner y Proctor opened y Act at st. Marie s 
(according to custouie), and > " Preraricalnn their drolery. 
Evelyn, Diary, July , 1054. 
prevayt, A Middle English form of privy. 
preve't, . and r. A Middle English form of 
/niiof, prove. 
prevent, a. A Middle English form of privy. 
prevelachet, it. A Middle English form of jtrit- 
(///-. 
preveleyt, adv. A Middle English form otpriv- 
I'u- 
prevenancy (|irev'e-nan-i), H. [< F. preve- 
nance, obliging thoughtfulness, < preveuant, ppr. 
of prevenir, anticipate, < L. prietenire, precede, 
come beforehand : MejMVMM.] Complaisance; 
prepossessing imposition orappearance; oblig- 
ing manner. [Rare.] 
La Fleur's prevrnancii (for there was a passport In his 
very looks) soon set every servant In the kitchen at ease 
with him. 
Sterne, Sentimental Journey, The Letter, Amiens. 
prevene (pn;-ven'). r. [= f.preteuir=s Pr. Sp. 
Pg. prevenirss It. prcrenire, precede, arrive !M'- 
fore,<] ..jirirri i/v.rotne before, anticipate, pre- 
vent, < pree, before. 4- venire, come.] I. fro;/.-. 
1. To come or go before : precede. [Rare.] 
preventable 
Till our poor race has passed the tortuous years 
That He preveniny the millennium. 
.'. G. Holland, Kathrlna, U. 
2f. To hinder; prevent. 
U.t intrans. To hinder; prevent. 
If thy Indulgent care 
Had not preven'd, among unbody'd shades 
I now had wandered. J. PhUipt, Cider, ii. 
prevenience (pre-ve'uiens), . [< ]>rerenie>i(t) 
+ -ce. Cf. ]-eveiianey.'] The act of anticipat- 
ing or going before; anticipation. 
prevenient (pre-ve'uient), a. [Also prtfce- 
HiM<;<L.j)rM < eiien(f-),'ppr.ofi'i'eiiire,come 
before, anticipate: see prevene.] 1. Going be- 
fore ; precedent ; anticipative of later events. 
The Articles that Hooper used on this occasion resem- 
bled so closely in parts the great formulary of the faith 
with which, as we have seen, Cranmer was engaged, that 
they may lie called a prevenient Issue of some of the Forty- 
two Articles of Edward. 
n. W. Dixon, Hist. Church of Eng., xi. 
2. Preventive; hindering; restraining.- Preve- 
nient grace. See yrace. 
From the mercy -seat above 
Prevenient yrace descending had removed 
The stony from their heart*. Milton, P. L., xL . . 
prevent (pre-veuf), r. [< L. prmenttu, pp. of 
prtfeenire, come before, anticipate, prevent: 
see prevent.] I. trans. 1. To go before; be 
earlier than; anticipate; forestall. [Obsolete 
or archaic.] 
I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried; I 
hoped In thy word. Pa. cxlx. 14". 
In this drought . . . the Lord prevented our prayers in 
sending us rain soon after, and liefore the day of humilia- 
tion came. Winthrop, Hist. New England, II. 264. 
Lord, we pray Ihee that thy grace may always prevent 
and follow us. livolc of Common Prayer, Collect for 17th 
[.Sunday after Trinity. 
Sweet Child, I hop'd to have prevented thee 
In seeing Rachel thy deceased Mother: 
lint surely long behind I will not be. 
J. Beaumont, I'syche, I. 139. 
From the towers, preventing day, 
With Wilfrid took his early way. 
Scott, Kokeby, II. 4. 
2f. Tolake previous measures against; hence, 
to frustrate; disappoint: evade; escape. 
Ill teach them to prevent wild Alclliiades' wrath. 
SAo*., T. of A., v. 1. 206. 
(ilve my love fame faster than Time wastes life; 
So thon prevent'tt his scythe and crooked knife. 
Shot., .Sonnets, c. 
Not too loud . the traitor 
May hear, and by escape prevent our justice. 
Shirley, The Traitor, 1. 2. 
3. To hinder from action by the opposition 
of obstacles; impede; restrain; check; pre- 
clude: generally followed by frinu. 
I do at this hour Joy o'er myself, 
Prevented from a damned enterprise. 
Sltalt., Hen. V., 11. 2. 164. 
The natural alt ections which men have for their children 
often prevent them/ron entering upon any grand, noble, 
"i meritorious enterprise for the public good. 
Bacon, Physical Fables, III., ExpL 
4. To keep from existing or occurring; render 
impossible. 
Mountains divide me from him ! some kind hand 
Prevent our fearful meeting ! 
Fletcher, Double Marriage, v. S. 
'I lie Eternal, to prevent such horrid fray, 
Hung forth in heaven his golden scales^ 
Milton, P. I., Iv. A96. 
As charity covers, so modesty preventeth, a multitude of 
sins. Sir T. Browne, Christ. Mor., L 36. 
- 8yn. 3. To preclude, bar, debar. 
II. mi rims. If. To come beforehand; come 
before others, or before the usual time. 
Strawberries watered now and then (as once In three 
days) with water wherein hath lieen steeped sheep's dung 
or pigeon's dung will prevent and come early. 
llaeou, Nat. Hist., | 403. 
2. To interpose a hindrance, especially an in- 
surmountable obstacle; interpose an effectual 
check; hinder. 
I In cIlmlicT-upward . . . 
Looks In the clouds, scorning the base degree* 
By which he did ascend. So Cicsar may. 
Then, lest he may, prevent. Shnt, J. C., II. 1. 2S. 
preventability (pre-vcn-la-bin-li), H. [< pre- 
ventable + -iti/ (see -bility).] The state of be- 
ing preventable; the possibility f prevention. 
As this conviction [of theconimiinlcalinit) of consump- 
tion through articles of food or liy jx-nKinal contact] In- 
M'.LII-.I, (In: iH'lh-f ill the prri-inluliilitii nf till ili-.:is<- will 
Increase. The Sanitarian, XIV. 25. 
preventable (|H-;-vi-n't;i-lil', n. [< pn-rcnt 
. I That can be prevented or hindered; 
of lie ing prevented. 
The ignorance of the end Is far more prennlaUe, consid- 
ering tin helps we have to know It. than of the means. 
Bp. IteyiuAdi, Works, p. 771. (Latkan.) 
