2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Prevalent  \Prev"a*lent\,  a.  [L.  praevalens  -entis,  p.  pr  of 
  praevalere  See  {Prevail}.] 
  1.  Gaining  advantage  or  superiority;  having  superior  force, 
  influence,  or  efficacy;  prevailing;  predominant; 
  successful;  victorious. 
 
  Brennus  told  the  Roman  embassadors,  that  prevalent 
  arms  were  as  good  as  any  title.  --Sir  W. 
  Raleigh. 
 
  2.  Most  generally  received  or  current;  most  widely  adopted  or 
  practiced;  also  generally  or  extensively  existing; 
  widespread;  prevailing;  as  a  prevalent  observance; 
  prevalent  disease. 
 
  This  was  the  most  received  and  prevalent  opinion. 
  --Woodward. 
 
  Syn:  Prevailing;  predominant;  successful;  efficacious; 
  powerful. 
 
  Usage:  {Prevalent},  {Prevailing}.  What  customarily  prevails 
  is  prevalent;  as  a  prevalent  fashion.  What  actually 
  prevails  is  prevailing;  as  the  prevailing  winds  are 
  west.  Hence  prevailing  is  the  livelier  and  more 
  pointed  word  since  it  represents  a  thing  in  action 
  It  is  sometimes  the  stronger  word  since  a  thing  may 
  prevail  sufficiently  to  be  called  prevalent,  and  yet 
  require  greater  strength  to  make  it  actually 
  prevailing. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  prevalent 
  adj  :  encountered  generally  especially  at  the  present  time;  "the 
  prevailing  opinion  was  that  a  trade  war  could  be 
  averted";  "the  most  prevalent  religion  in  our  area"; 
  "speculation  concerning  the  books  author  was  rife" 
  [syn:  {prevailing},  {rife}] 

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