Prevalent
/ˈprɛvələnt/noun
Widespread or commonly encountered.
Did you know?Its root is the Latin verb *praevalēre*, literally “to be stronger than” or “to have great force,” so the word originally carried the energy of dominance, not just popularity.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
praevalēre
“to be stronger than; to overcome; to have greater force”
Late Latin
Latin
praevalent-
“overpowering; prevailing”
Old French
French
prevalent
“prevailing; having force or influence”
14th-15th Century
English
prevalent
“having superior force or influence; prevailing”
Modern English
English
prevalent
“widespread or commonly found”