Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary -- Volume AB

A"va (?), n. Same as Kava. Johnston.

Av`a·da·vat" (?), n. Same as Amadavat.

A·vail" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Availed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Availing.] [OE. availen, fr. F. ? (L. ad) + valoir to be worth, fr. L. valere to be strong, to be worth. See Valiant.]

1. To turn to the advantage of; to be of service to; to profit; to benefit; to help; as, artifices will not avail the sinner in the day of judgment.

O, what avails me now that honor high !
Milton.

2. To promote; to assist. [Obs.] Pope.

-- To avail one's self of, to make use of; take advantage of.

Then shall they seek to avail themselves of names.
Milton.

I have availed myself of the very first opportunity.
Dickens.

A·vail", v. i. To be of use or advantage; to answer the purpose; to have strength, force, or efficacy sufficient to accomplish the object; as, the plea in bar must avail, that is, be sufficient to defeat the suit; this scheme will not avail; medicines will not avail to check the disease. "What signs avail ?" Milton.

Words avail very little with me, young man.
Sir W. Scott.

A·vail" (?), n.

1. Profit; advantage toward success; benefit; value; as, labor, without economy, is of little avail.