Avail — Defs

01 v. t. 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.

imp. & p. p. Availed; p. pr. & vb. n. Availing

1.
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.
“O, what avails me now that honor high !” — Milton.
2.
To promote; to assist.[Obs.]
“Then shall they seek to avail themselves of names.” — Milton.

“I have availed myself of the very first opportunity.” — Dickens.

Phrases & compounds

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

02 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…

1.
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.
“Words avail very little with me, young man.” — Sir W. Scott.

03 n. Profit; advantage toward success; benefit; value; as, labor, without economy, is of little avail.

1.
Profit; advantage toward success; benefit; value; as, labor, without economy, is of little avail.
“The avail of a deathbed repentance.” — Jer. Taylor.
2.
Proceeds; as, the avails of a sale by auction.
“The avails of their own industry.” — Stoddard.

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

04 v. t. & i. See Avale, v.

1.
See Avale, v.[Obs.] See: Avale