Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- intransitive verb To be of use or advantage to; help.
- intransitive verb To be of use, value, or advantage; serve.
- noun Use, benefit, or advantage.
- idiom (avail (oneself) of) To make use of.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun Advantage, profit, or benefit, in a general sense; also, value or estimation.
- noun Efficacy for a purpose; advantage to an object or end: now used chiefly in negative phrases, or sentences of negative import: as, of little or no avail; I doubt whether it will be of much avail.
- noun plural Profits or proceeds: as, the avails of a sale by auction.
- noun Returns.
- See
avale . - To have value or use; be of service or advantage; give profit: as, wealth avails little to a castaway.
- To have force or efficacy; serve for a purpose; give aid toward an end: as, his cries availed to bring relief.
- To take or draw advantage; make use or profit.
- To be for the advantage of; assist or profit: as, what will skill avail us against numbers?
- To promote; prosper; assist: said of things.
- To advantage; profit; give the benefit to: used reflexively, with of: as, he availed himself of the opportunity.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- transitive verb To turn to the advantage of; to be of service to; to profit; to benefit; to help.
- transitive verb obsolete To promote; to assist.
- transitive verb to make use of; take advantage of.
- noun Profit; advantage toward success; benefit; value.
- noun Proceeds.
- intransitive verb To be of use or advantage; to answer the purpose; to have strength, force, or efficacy sufficient to accomplish the object
- verb obsolete See
avale , v.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb transitive To turn to the
advantage of - verb transitive To be of
service to. - verb transitive To
promote ; toassist . - verb intransitive To be of
use or advantage; to answer or serve thepurpose ; to have strength, force, orefficacy sufficient to accomplish the object. - verb India, Africa To
provide . - noun obsolete, poetic
Effort ;striving . - noun television, advertising An advertising
slot orpackage . - noun US, politics, journalism A
press avail . - noun UK, acting Non-binding notice of
availability for work. - noun oil industry A readily available
stock ofoil .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- verb take or use
- verb be of use to, be useful to
- noun a means of serving
- verb use to one's advantage
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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You reported on the usage of the word avail as shorthand or shortspeak for availability.
The Right Word in the Right Place at the Right Time William Safire 2004
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You reported on the usage of the word avail as shorthand or shortspeak for availability.
The Right Word in the Right Place at the Right Time William Safire 2004
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Writers in England who argue for contribution in money ask: "Of what avail is the presence of a few cruisers in Canadian waters?"
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Jane writes to her sister: Charles has received £30 for his share in the privateer, and expects £10 more; but of what avail is it to take prizes if he lays out the produce in presents to his sisters?
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Of what avail is all that you have let me learn, all the Sanskrit and English and other things, an I am less able to help myself than the woman who grinds the corn for our daily bread?
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During the meeting, the two officials agreed to assign a joint-team of specialists and technicians to draft a cooperation protocol enabling Yemen to avail from the Spanish experience in fisheries.
Yemen Observer 2009
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257 In the text he tells of the whole story beginning with the eunuch and the hundred dinars, the chest, etc.: but — “of no avail is a twice-told tale.”
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Luna tries to hunt desert rabbits, to no avail, which is good.
The Lighter Side: The Office Assistant Judy 2010
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When his power ceases to avail, that is when a stronger than he appears upon the scene, he is himself liable to be despoiled and killed.
Freedom In Service Six Essays on Matters Concerning Britain's Safety and Good Government 1907
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I have you fast, and little will your sword avail you '; then followed loud blows against the wall.
The Red Romance Book Andrew Lang 1900
miae commented on the word avail
Avail, as in “totes avail” meaning “totally available.”
October 4, 2011