Avail

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: a=vail

CIDE DICTIONARY

Avail, v. t. [OE. availen, fr. F. (L. ad) + valoir to be worth, fr. L. valere to be strong, to be worth. See Valiant.].

•  To turn to the advantage of; to be of service to; to profit; to benefit; to help; as, artifices will not avail the sinner in the day of judgment.  [1913 Webster]

  "O, what avails me now that honor high !"  [1913 Webster]
•  To promote; to assist.  Pope.  [1913 Webster]

  "Then shall they seek to avail themselves of names."  [1913 Webster]

  "I have availed myself of the very first opportunity."  [1913 Webster]

To avail one's self of, to make use of; take advantage of.

Avail, v. i. 

 To be of use or advantage; to answer the purpose; to have strength, force, or efficacy sufficient to accomplish the object; as, the plea in bar must avail, that is, be sufficient to defeat the suit; this scheme will not avail; medicines will not avail to check the disease.  Milton.  [1913 Webster]
"Words avail very little with me, young man."  [1913 Webster]

Avail, n. 

•  Profit; advantage toward success; benefit; value; as, labor, without economy, is of little avail.  [1913 Webster]

  "The avail of a deathbed repentance."  [1913 Webster]
•  Proceeds; as, the avails of a sale by auction.  [1913 Webster]

  "The avails of their own industry."  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- Use; benefit; utility; profit; service.

Avail, v. t. & i. 

 See Avale, v.  Spenser.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Avail, v. & n.
--v.
1 tr. help, benefit.
2 refl. (foll. by of) profit by; take advantage of.
3 intr. a provide help. b be of use, value, or profit.
--n. (usu. in neg. or interrog. phrases) use, profit (of no avail; without avail; of what avail?).

Etymology

ME f. obs. vail (v.) f. OF valoir be worth f. L valere

THESAURUS

Avail

abet, account, advance, advantage, aid, answer, applicability, appositeness, appropriateness, assist, bail out, be equal to, be handy, be of use, bear, bear a hand, befriend, behalf, behoof, benefit, benison, bestead, blessing, boon, break no bones, comfort, convenience, do, do good, do it, do no harm, do the trick, doctor, ease, favor, fill, fill the bill, fitness, fulfill, gain, get by, give a boost, give a hand, give a lift, give good returns, give help, go around, good, hack it, help, hold, interest, just do, lend a hand, lend one aid, make the grade, meet, meet requirements, pass, pass muster, pay, pay off, percentage, point, proffer aid, profit, protect, qualify, rally, reach, reclaim, redeem, relevance, relieve, remedy, render assistance, rescue, restore, resuscitate, revive, satisfy, save, serve, serve the purpose, service, serviceability, set up, stand, stand up, stretch, succor, suffice, suitability, take in tow, take it, use, usefulness, value, welfare, well-being, work, work for, world of good, worth, yield a profit

ROGET THESAURUS

Avail

Utility

N utility, usefulness, efficacy, efficiency, adequacy, service, use, stead, avail, help, applicability, subservience, function, value, worth, money's worth, productiveness, cui bono, utilization, step in the right direction, common weal, commonwealth public good, public interest, utilitarianism, useful, of use, serviceable, proficuous, good for, subservient, conducive, subsidiary, advantageous, profitable, gainful, remunerative, worth one's salt, valuable, prolific, adequate, efficient, efficacious, effective, effectual, expedient, applicable, available, ready, handy, at hand, tangible, commodious, adaptable, of all work, usefully, pro bono publico.

VB be useful, avail, serve, subserve, conduce, answer, serve one's turn, answer a purpose, serve a purpose, act a part, perform a function, discharge a function, render a service, render good service, render yeoman's service, bestead, stand one in good stead be the making of, help, bear fruit, bring grist to the mill, profit, remunerate, benefit, find one's account in, find one's advantage in, reap the benefit of, render useful.

Use

N use, employ, employment, exercise, exercitation, application, appliance, adhibition, disposal, consumption, agency, usufruct, usefulness, benefit, recourse, resort, avail, utilization, service, wear, usage, in use, used, well-worn, well-trodden, useful, subservient.

Success

VB succeed, be successful, gain one's end, gain one's ends, crown with success, gain a point, attain a point, carry a point, secure a point, win a point, win an object, get there, manage to, contrive to, accomplish, do wonders, work wonders, make a go of it, come off well, come off successful, come off with flying colors, make short work of, take by storm, carry by storm, bear away the bell, win one's wings, win one's spurs, win the battle, win the day, carry the day, gain the day, gain the prize, gain the palm, have the best of it, have it all one's own way, have the game in one's owns hands, have the ball at one's feet, have one on the hop, walk over the course, carry all before one, remain in possession of the field, score a success, speed, make progress, win one's way, make one's way, work one's way, find one's way, strive to some purpose, prosper, drive a roaring trade, make profit, reap the fruits, gather the fruits, reap the benefit of, reap the harvest, strike oil, gain a windfall, make one's fortune, get in the harvest, turn to good account, turn to account, triumph, be triumphant, gain a victory, obtain a victory, gain an advantage, chain victory to one's car, nail a coonskin to the wall, surmount a difficulty, overcome a difficulty, get over a difficulty, get over an obstacle, se tirer d'affaire, make head against, stem the torrent, stem the tide, stem the current, weather the storm, weather a point, turn a corner, keep one's head above water, tide over, master, get the better of, have the better of, gain the better of, gain the best of, gain the upper hand, gain the ascendancy, gain the whip hand, gain the start of, distance, surpass, defeat, conquer, vanquish, discomfit, euchre, overcome, overthrow, overpower, overmaster, overmatch, overset, override, overreach, outwit, outdo, outflank, outmaneuver, outgeneral, outvote, take the wind out of one's adversary's sails, beat, beat hollow, rout, lick, drub, floor, worst, put down, put to flight, put to the rout, put hors de combat, put out of court, silence, quell, nonsuit, checkmate, upset, confound, nonplus, stalemate, trump, baffle, circumvent, elude, trip up, trip up the heels of, drive into a corner, drive to the wall, run hard, put one's nose out of joint, settle, do for, break the neck of, break the back of, capsize, sink, shipwreck, drown, swamp, subdue, subjugate, reduce, make the enemy bite the dust, victimize, roll in the dust, trample under foot, put an extinguisher upon, answer, answer the purpose, avail, prevail, take effect, do, turn out well, work well, take, tell, bear fruit, hit it, hit the mark, hit the right nail on the head, nick it, turn up trumps, make a hit, find one's account in.