unpreˈvailing, ppl. a.
[un-1 10.]
1. Ineffective, unsuccessful.
| 1602 Shakes. 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. |