Webster's English Dictionary

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vail

1. vail \'va-(*)l\ vb [ME vailen, fr. OF vaill-, stem of valoir to be of 
   worth, fr.] L vale-re to be strong - more at WIELD archaic  : AVAIL 
2. vail vt [ME valen, partly fr. MF valer (short for avaler to let fall)] & 
   partly short for ME avalen to let fall, fr. MF avaler, fr. OF, fr. aval 
   downward, fr. a to (fr. L ad) + val valley - more at AT : to lower often as 
   a sign of respect or submission