Meaning

verb be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance

verb be valid, applicable, or true

verb continue to exist

originFrom Middle English prevailen, from Old French prevaler, from Latin praevaleō (“be very able or more able, be superior, prevail”), from prae (“before”) + valeō (“be able or powerful”). Displaced native Old English rīcsian.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0