Prē'vā-lent, a.
a. [Lat. praevalens, p. pr. of praevalere; It. prevalente. See PREVAIL.]
Sense 1. Gaining advantage or superiority; having superior force or efficacy; prevailing; efficacious.
Brennus told the Roman embassadors that prevalent arms were as good as any title. Raleigh.
Sense 2. Most generally received or current; as, a prevalent opinion.
Sense 3. Predominant; most general; extensively existing; as, a prevalent disease.
Synonyms— Prevailing; predominant; successful; efficacious; powerful. — PREVALENT, PREVAILING. What customarily prevails is prevalent; as, a prevalent fashion. What actually prevails is prevailing; as, the prevailing winds are west. Hence, prevailing is the livelier and more pointed word, since it represents a thing in action. It is sometimes the stronger word, since a thing may prevail sufficiently to be called prevalent, and yet require greater strength to make it actually prevailing. We may add, that prevalent may be used either before or after its noun; as, the prevalent winds are west, or, the west winds are prevalent; while prevailing can be used only before its noun; as, the prevailing wind is west. In other words, prevailing can not be used as a predicate.