avadavat

[AMADAVAT.1 An Indian bird, the same as AMADAVAT (Q.V.). IMG:content-0914.png:[ocr errors] a-vā'il (1), a-vā'ile, *a-vāʻill, * a-vā ille, * a-vay-lyn, a-vayl, * a-ua'ile, *a-ua'yle, a-uê'ile (u as v), v.i. & t. [From Fr. valoir = to be worth Old Fr. valoir, valer, valeir ; Prov., Sp., & Port. valer ; Ital. valere ; Lat. valeo (1) to be strong or vigorous, (2) to be worth.] A. Intransitive: To be of sufficient strength, validity, or effectivene to gain the end which it was designed to accomplish. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."- James v. 16. "Farewell! if ever fondest prayer For other's weal avail'd on high." B. Transitive : Byron: Farewell ! 1. To profit, to serve the purpose of. "But litle may such guile thee now avayl." Spenser: F. Q., II. v. 5. "Yet all this availeth me nothing."- Esther v. 13. (a) It is rarely followed by an infinitive. "Eternal sorrows what avails to shed? Greece honours not with solemu fasts the dead." Pope : Homer's Iliad , bk. xix., 227-8. (b) It is often used reciprocally. "Then shall they seek t' avail themselves of names, Places, and titles. Milton: P. L. , bk. xii. 2. To promote, to favour, to a ist. "Meantime he voyag'd to explore the will Of Jove, on high Dodona's holy hill: What means might best his safe return avail." Pope: Homer ; Ody ey xiv. 365.