Prevailing vs Overcome - What's the difference?
prevailing | overcome |
Predominant; of greatest force.
* '', reprinted in 1797, John Bell, ''Bell's British Theatre , Volume 33,
* 1807 , , The Life and Most Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner ,
* 1826 , , House of Commons Papers , Volume 17,
Prevalent, common, widespread.
* 1829 , James Annesley, Sketches of the Most Prevalent Diseases of India ,
* 1832 , David Brewster, Spain'', entry in ''The Edinburgh Encyclopaedia , Volume 17,
* 1940 , Australian Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics, Official Year Book of the Commonwealth of Australia No. 33 - 1940 ,
To surmount (a physical or abstract obstacle); to prevail over, to get the better of.
:to overcome enemies in battle
*Spenser
*:This wretched woman overcome / Of anguish, rather than of crime, hath been.
*1898 , , (Moonfleet), Ch.4:
*:By and by fumes of brandy began to fill the air, and climb to where I lay, overcoming the mouldy smell of decayed wood and the dampness of the green walls.
(obsolete) To win (a battle).
*:
*:Ther with all cam kyng Arthur but with a fewe peple and slewe on the lyfte hand and on the ryght hand that wel nyhe ther escaped no man / but alle were slayne to the nombre of xxx M / And whan the bataille was all ended the kynge kneled doune and thanked god mekely / and thenne he sente for the quene and soone she was come / and she maade grete Ioye of the ouercomynge of that bataille
To win or prevail in some sort of battle, contest, etc.
:
*
, chapter=2, title= (usually in passive) To overwhelm with emotion.
:
To come or pass over; to spread over.
*Shakespeare
*:And overcome us like a summer's cloud.
To overflow; to surcharge.
:
As verbs the difference between prevailing and overcome
is that prevailing is present participle of lang=en while overcome is to surmount (a physical or abstract obstacle); to prevail over, to get the better of.As an adjective prevailing
is predominant; of greatest force.prevailing
English
Adjective
(en adjective)- The prevailing opinion was for additional planning time.
page 37 (within play),
- He has a humour more prevailing than his curiosity, and will willingly dispense with the hearing of one scandalous story, to avoid giving an occasion to make another, by being seen to walk with his wife.
page 187,
- and as merciful coun?els are mo?t prevailing when earne?tly pre??ed, ?o I got them to be of the ?ame opinion as to clemency.
page 411,
- I have heard generally that alderman Archer has a more prevailing and powerful influence in the commons than any other alderman, and exercises that influence ;
page 247,
- Fever'' and ''dysentery are the most prevailing diseases in this division, more particularly the latter, which is one of the most destructive amongst the troops in India, and particularly so in the European constitution.
page 371,
- One of the most prevailing defects in this people is their invincible indolence, and hatred of labour, which has, at all times, paralysed the government of their best princes, and impeded the success of their most brilliant enterprises.
page 49,
- In Sydney at 9 am, by far the most prevailing wind is a westerly, particularly during the colder two-thirds of the year.
Verb
(head)overcome
English
Verb
The Mirror and the Lamp, passage=That the young Mr. Churchills liked—but they did not like him coming round of an evening and drinking weak whisky-and-water while he held forth on railway debentures and corporation loans. Mr. Barrett, however, by fawning and flattery, seemed to be able to make not only Mrs. Churchill but everyone else do what he desired. And if the arts of humbleness failed him, he overcame you by sheer impudence.}}