prevailing

Predominant; of greatest force.

Adjective

Predominant; of greatest force.
- The prevailing opinion was for additional planning time.
- He has a Humour more prevailing than his Curioſity, and will willingly diſpence with the hearing of one ſcandalous Story, to avoid giving an occaſion to make another, by being ſeen to walk with his Wife. - 1700,...
- But they could never gain my conſent to put him to death, for the reaſons above mentioned, ſince it was an Engliſhman (even yourſelf) was my deliverer: And, as merciful counſels are moſt prevailing, when earneſtly...
Prevalent, common, widespread.
- Fever and dysentery are the most prevailing diseases in this division, more particularly the latter, which is one of the most destructive amongst the troops in India, and particularly so in the European constitution. -...
- One of the most prevailing defects in this people is their invincible indolence, and hatred of labour, which has, at all times, paralysed the government of their best princes, and impeded the success of their most...
- In Sydney at 9 am, by far the most prevailing wind is a westerly, particularly during the colder two-thirds of the year. - 1940, Australian Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics, Official Year Book of the...

By surface analysis, prevail + -ing.