prevalent English · revision 39648

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=?a1475, translation of Higden's Polychronicon|origins=la valeō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈpɹɛvələnt/, /pɹɪˈveɪlənt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|praevalēns|t=very strong or powerful]],^(OED 2026)^(AHD 2024)^(Barnhart 1988) the present participle of [[m|la|praevaleō|t=to be stronger, be more able]],^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(Klein 1966) the verb behind [[prevail]],^(AHD 2024)^(Barnhart 1988)^(ODE 2010) a compound of [[m|la|prae-|t=before]] and [[m|la|valeō|t=to be strong, have power]],^(Etymonline) which Etymonline takes from [[ine-pro|*wal-|t=to be strong]].^(Etymonline) The OED compares [[m|fr|prévalent]] (1710), [[m|es|prevalente]] and [[m|it|prevalente]] (14th century).^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Having great power or force; effective, influential: ?a1475, in a translation of Ranulf Higden's ''Polychronicon'' made perhaps about 1425; this sense is now obsolete.^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1988) Etymonline dates the word to the early 15th century,^(Etymonline) while the Shorter Oxford, the Oxford Dictionary of English and Collins date it to the late 16th century and Dictionary.com to 1570–80.^(SOED 2002)^(ODE 2010)^(Collins 2023)^(Dictionary.com 2016)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of a medicine or treatment it meant efficacious from 1615 to 1800.^(OED 2026)^(SOED 2002) From 1614, in Ralegh's ''History of the World'', it meant having the upper hand, victorious, a sense now rare.^(OED 2026) Johnson (1755) still defined it as victorious, gaining superiority, quoting Ralegh and Milton's "Michael and his angels prevalent".^(Johnson 1755) The modern sense, widespread or generally occurring, is first recorded in Sir Thomas Browne's ''Hydriotaphia'' (1658).^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) A noun ''prevalent'', something widespread or a predominant feature, is recorded from 1867, and in ecology for a prevalent species.^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * ?a1475 – powerful, effective (obsolete).^(OED 2026)

+ * 1614 – predominant, victorious (now rare).^(OED 2026)

+ * 1615 – of a medicine, efficacious (obsolete by 1800).^(OED 2026)

+ * 1658 – widespread, generally occurring.^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1867 – noun, something widespread.^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[widespread|alt=Widespread]] or common in a particular place or at a particular time: ''Malaria remains prevalent in the region.''^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # Generally accepted, practised or favoured; [[current]].^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)

+ # (rare) [[dominant|alt=Dominant]] or superior in power.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something widespread or predominant.^(MWU 2024)^(OED 2026) In [[ecology]], a species that is common in a [[community]].^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[prevalently]]

+ * [[prevalence]]

+ * [[nonprevalent]]

+ * [[unprevalent]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[prevail]]

+ * [[valiant]]

+ * [[value]]

+ * [[valid]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}