Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PREV'A-LENT, a.

1. Gaining advantage or superiority; victorious. Brennus told the Roman embassadors, that prevalent arms were as good as any title. – Ralegh.
2. Powerful; efficacious; successful; as, prevalent supplications.
3. Predominant; most generally received or current; as, a prevalent opinion. – Woodward.
4. Predominant; most general; extensively existing; as, a prevalent disease.