c. 1300, availen, apparently a French compound formed in English from Old French a- "to" (see ad-) + vailen "to avail," from vaill-, present stem of valoir "be worth," from Latin valere (see valiant). Related: Availed; availing. As a noun, from c. 1400.
权威例句
1. His efforts were to no avail.
他徒劳无功。
2. I apologized repeatedly, but to little avail.
我一再道歉,但丝毫没有奏效。
3. We tried to keep him alive but to no avail.
我们全力抢救他,但却徒劳无功.
4. They tried artificial respiration but it was of no avail.
他们试做人工呼吸,可是无效.
5. They entreated and threatened, but all this seemed of no avail.