Effect in achieving a goal or aim; purpose, use (now usually in negative constructions).
"The new safety regulations had no avail in preventing the accident from occurring again."
In plain English: Avail is an old-fashioned word for something that helps you get what you want, though it rarely shows up on its own anymore.
"He did not have time to avail himself of the early bird discount."
To turn to the advantage of.
"After years of neglect, finally restoring the old library will avail us by providing a quiet space for community study."
In plain English: To avail means to take advantage of an opportunity that is available to you.
"I will avail myself of your advice to solve this problem."
Usage: Use this verb only with reflexive pronouns like myself, yourself, and themselves when meaning "to take advantage of." Do not say that something avails you directly; instead, state that it avails itself or simply use a synonym such as benefit from.
The word "avail" comes from the Old French phrase a vail, meaning "of use." It entered English through Middle English with this same sense of being useful or effective.