All 3 Uses of
prevail
in
The Scarlet Letter
- Knowing your natural temper better than I, he could the better judge what arguments to use, whether of tenderness or terror, such as might prevail over your hardness and obstinacy, insomuch that you should no longer hide the name of him who tempted you to this grievous fall.
p. 62.3 *prevail = prove superior or win
- This latter step, however, there was no present prospect that Arthur Dimmesdale would be prevailed upon to take; he rejected all suggestions of the kind, as if priestly celibacy were one of his articles of Church discipline.†
p. 116.1
- He stood, at this moment, on the very proudest eminence of superiority, to which the gifts or intellect, rich lore, prevailing eloquence, and a reputation of whitest sanctity, could exalt a clergyman in New England's earliest days, when the professional character was of itself a lofty pedestal.†
p. 232.7 *
Definitions:
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(1)
(prevail as in: reason will prevail) prove superior or win
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(2)
(prevail as in: she prevailed upon him) use persuasion -- especially successfullyThe expression "prevail upon your patience" or "prevail upon your kindness" means to appeal to the listeners patience or kindness as a method of persuasion.
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(3)
(prevailing as in: prevailing attitude) most common, powerful, or influential
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(4)
(prevail as in: rare, but still prevails) to be in force; or to have some power or influence