| 释义 |
prevalency Now rare.|ˈprɛvələnsɪ|
[ad. med.L. prævalēntia: see prec. and -ency.]
The quality or fact of being prevalent.
†1. Superiority, predominance: = prevalence 1.
1623Cockeram, Preualencie, excellencie. 1642Chas. I Declar. 12 Aug., Wks. 1662 II. 152 Concurrence was desperate by reason of the Prevalency of the Bishops and of the Recusant Lords. 1691Andros Tracts II. 241 Where the vice of Covetousness has..got the prevalency over the rest. 1710Prideaux Orig. Tithes v. 235 The corruptions of the Church of Rome through the prevalency of the Papal Power brought some such [prescriptions] afterwards in.
†b. The quality of being of greater power or strength; superiority of power: = prevalence 1 b.
1646Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. iv. v. 187 That there is also in men a naturall prepotency in the right [hand], we cannot with constancy affirme, if we make observation in children;..this prevalency is either uncertainly placed in the laterallity, or custome determines its indifferency. Ibid. 189 According to the indifferency or original and native prepotency, there ariseth an equality in both, or prevalency in either side.
2. Prevailing or effective power or influence; prevailingness: = prevalence 2.
1656Jeanes Fuln. Christ 333 So the value of his sufferings was an argument of prevalency with his father. 1661Feltham Resolves ii. vii. (ed. 8) 191 Those that are daily attendant upon great Persons,..have a greater prevalency with them, than those..that live as strangers to them. 1794Paley Evid. ii. ix. (1817) 222 For the express purpose of showing to the emperor the effect and prevalency of the new institution. 1842J. Sherman in H. Allon Mem. (1863) 296 Prayer has a wonderful prevalency with God.
3. The quality or condition of being prevalent, or of frequent or general occurrence or acceptance: = prevalence 3.
1651C. Cartwright Cert. Relig. i. 110 Sometimes through..prevalencie of error, the Church may be so obscured as to be scarcely visible. 1766Cole in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. IV. 485 Convinced of the great prevalency of Deism in that Kingdom. 1794S. Williams Vermont 63 The prevalency and extent of the westerly winds. 1882–3Schaff's Encycl. Relig. Knowl. II. 885/2 From Cicero down, stress has been justly laid on the prevalency among all nations of a belief in a superior being.
b. With a and pl. A prevalent feature.
1806R. Cumberland Mem. (1807) II. 262 To..purify my native language from certain false pedantic prevalencies which were much in fashion when I first became a writer. |