---
title: prevail — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «prevail» in the school dictionary: To win or be stronger in the end after a struggle. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# prevail

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, someone, prevailing wind, team, She, her · **What happens:** win, be, prevail, persuade, do, blow · **To what, where:** end, place, on/upon, someone, something, her · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«prevail» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [prevail in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/prevail.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To win or be stronger in the end after a struggle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prevail:m1:1
# text = To win or be stronger in the end after a struggle.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	win	win	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
5	stronger	strong	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	conj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
9	after	after	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	struggle	struggle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **win** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  | in the end; after a struggle |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V PP.eventuality S\_ING»: agent=Agent in end=Eventuality |
| 2 | **is** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | strong *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To be common or usual in a place or time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prevail:m2:1
# text = To be common or usual in a place or time.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
2	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	cop	_	_
3	common	common	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	usual	usual	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | a place or time |  | common *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
prevail on/upon (formal) To persuade someone to do something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prevail:m3:1
# text = prevail on/upon (formal) To persuade someone to do something.
1	prevail	prevail	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	on/upon	on/upon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
3	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	4	punct	_	_
6	To	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	persuade	persuade	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
8	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
11	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prevail** | imperative | you *not said here* | on/upon |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **persuade** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | someone |  |  |  |  | vn compel-59.1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent someone=Patient clause=Result |
| 3 | **do** | to-infinitive | someone *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the end, good prevailed over evil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prevail:x1:1
# text = In the end, good prevailed over evil.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	prevailed	prevail	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	over	over	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	evil	evil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prevail** | participle |  |  |  |  | in the end | over evil | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in end=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The prevailing wind in Ireland blows from the west.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prevail:x2:1
# text = The prevailing wind in Ireland blows from the west.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	prevailing	prevail	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	amod	_	_
3	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	Ireland	Ireland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	blows	blow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	west	west	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prevail** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **blow** | present | the prevailing wind in Ireland |  |  |  |  | from the west | vn split-23.2 «NP V PP.co-patient»: agent=Patient from west=Co-Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Calm prevailed after the storm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prevail:x3:1
# text = Calm prevailed after the storm.
1	Calm	calm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	prevailed	prevail	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	acl	_	_
3	after	after	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prevail** | participle |  |  |  |  | after the storm |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our team prevailed after extra time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prevail:x4:1
# text = Our team prevailed after extra time.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	prevailed	prevail	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	after	after	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	extra	extra	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prevail** | past | Our team |  |  |  | time |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She prevailed on her dad to let her keep the kitten.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prevail:x5:1
# text = She prevailed on her dad to let her keep the kitten.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	prevailed	prevail	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	let	let	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
8	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	kitten	kitten	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prevail** | past | She |  |  |  |  | on her dad | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on dad=Location |
| 2 | **let** | to-infinitive | She *not said here* | her *= she* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **keep** | infinitive | her *= she* *not said here* | the kitten |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent kitten=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fairness must prevail in every game.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prevail:x6:1
# text = Fairness must prevail in every game.
1	Fairness	fairness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	prevail	prevail	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	det	_	_
6	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prevail** | must | Fairness |  |  | every game |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in game=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sunny weather prevailed for the whole holiday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prevail:x7:1
# text = Sunny weather prevailed for the whole holiday.
1	Sunny	sunny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	weather	weather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	prevailed	prevail	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	holiday	holiday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prevail** | past | Sunny weather |  |  |  |  | for the whole holiday | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"You cannot prevail against me," said Death.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prevail:x8:1
# text = "You cannot prevail against me," said Death.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	prevail	prevail	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	ccomp	_	_
6	against	against	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
10	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	Death	Death	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **prevail** *in a quote* | can | You |  |  |  |  | against Death | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme against i=Location |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Death |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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