ppl. a. [UN-1 10.]
1. Ineffective, unsuccessful.
1602. Shaks., Ham., I. ii. 107. King. We pray you throw to earth This vnpreuayling woe, and thinke of vs As of a Father.
1693. Locke, Educ., § 78. If she had left off sooner … she had spoil’d the Child for ever, and, by her unprevailing Blows, only confirm’d her Refractoriness.
1716–20. Lett. fr. Mist’s Jrnl. (1722), I. 292. Beauty draws but by a Hair, and that’s but weak and unprevailing.
a. 1806. Horsley, Serm., xxvii. (1816), II. 344. The bare unprevailing wish that we were what we necessarily understand we ought to be.
1813. Shelley, Q. Mab, VII. 248. The unprevailing malice of my Foe.
b. Quasi-adv. Ineffectively, vainly.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., VII. 326. We were … assayled by the Cursares…; yet vnpreuailing, for we were well prouided with good Munition.
1817. Shelley, Rev. Islam., I. xiv. Wile baffled wile, and strength encountered strength, Thus long, but unprevailing.
2. Not prevalent or usual.
1859. Mill, Liberty, 97. It is only desired to restrain the employment of them against the prevailing opinion: against the unprevailing they may … be used without general disapproval.
