Part 460

Then shall they seek to avail themselves of names. Milton.

I have availed myself of the very first opportunity. Dickens.

A*vail", 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. "What signs avail ?" Milton.

Words avail very little with me, young man. Sir W. Scott.

A*vail" (&?;), n. 1. Profit; advantage toward success; benefit; value; as, labor, without economy, is of little avail.

The avail of a deathbed repentance. Jer. Taylor.

2. pl. Proceeds; as, the avails of a sale by auction.

The avails of their own industry. Stoddard.

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

A*vail", v. t. & i. See Avale, v. [Obs.] Spenser.

A*vail`a*bil"i*ty (&?;), n.; pl. Availabilities (&?;). 1. The quality of being available; availableness.

The word is sometimes used derogatively in the sense of "mere availableness," or capability of success without regard to worthiness.

He was . . . nominated for his availability. Lowell.

2. That which is available.

A*vail"a*ble (&?;), a. 1. Having sufficient power, force, or efficacy, for the object; effectual; valid; as, an available plea. [Obs.]

Laws human are available by consent. Hooker.

2. Such as one may avail one's self of; capable of being used for the accomplishment of a purpose; usable; profitable; advantageous; convertible into a resource; as, an available measure; an available candidate.

Struggling to redeem, as he did, the available months and days out of so many that were unavailable. Carlyle.

Having no available funds with which to pay the calls on new shares. H. Spenser.

A*vail"a*ble*ness, n. 1. Competent power; validity; efficacy; as, the availableness of a title. [Obs.]

2. Quality of being available; capability of being used for the purpose intended. Sir M. Hale.

A*vail"a*bly, adv. In an available manner; profitably; advantageously; efficaciously.

A*vail"ment (&?;), n. Profit; advantage. [Obs.]

Av"a*lanche` (?; 277), n. [F. avalanche, fr. avaler to descend, to let down, from aval down, downward; &?; (L. ad) + val, L. vallis, valley. See Valley.] 1. A large mass or body of snow and ice sliding swiftly down a mountain side, or falling down a precipice.

2. A fall of earth, rocks, etc., similar to that of an avalanche of snow or ice.

3. A sudden, great, or irresistible descent or influx of anything.

A*vale" (&?;), v. t. & i. [F. avaler to descend, to let down. See Avalanche.] 1. To cause to descend; to lower; to let fall; to doff. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. To bring low; to abase. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.