English
avail
Avail comes from Middle English availen ‘to be of use’, from Old French a ‘to’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂welh₁-reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂wl̥h₁éh₁yetireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*walēō‘to be strong’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEvaleōas valere‘to be worthy, strong’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400valoir‘to be worth’
- Old French, derivedc. 842–1400a‘to’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500availen‘to be of use’
- Englishearliest quotation 1485avail
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂welh₁-reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂wl̥h₁éh₁yetireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*walēō‘to be strong’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEvaleōas valere‘to be worthy, strong’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400valoir‘to be worth’
- Old French, derivedc. 842–1400a‘to’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500availen‘to be of use’
- Englishearliest quotation 1485avail
Earliest quotation: 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, ij: “I shal take the aduenture sayd Balen that god…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁-
wild, wool, velvet, validation, wield, fluff, validate, flannel, valiant, cuckold, velour, lanolin, woll, valorous, 36 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂wl̥h₁éh₁yeti
through Proto-Italic *walēō ‘to be strong’
value, invalid, validity, ambivalent, valence, convalescent, convalescence, 14 more
through Latin valeō ‘to be worthy, strong’
equivalent, valid, vale, valour, 20 more
through Old French valoir ‘to be worth’
through Old French a ‘to’
Today it means
verb To turn to the advantage of.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁- / avail