WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
par•a•vail
(par′ə vāl′, par′ə vāl′),USA pronunciation adj. [Old Eng. Law.]
- Lawbeing below or inferior to all others;
specifically, being a tenant of one who holds land of another who is also a tenant:a tenant paravail.
- Latin ad vallem literally, to the valley
- Old French par aval down (of direction, position), equivalent. to par through, by (see per-) + aval, a val down
- 1525–35