† revalev.

Etymology: Probably < Middle French ravaler (French ravaler ) to persecute (a person), to mistreat (a person), to disparage (a person) (late 14th cent.; the use with inanimate objects in sense ‘to reduce’ is not paralleled in French until later (16th cent.); already in Old French in senses ‘to descend’ (late 12th cent.) and ‘to put (a decoration, ceiling, etc.) in a lower place’ (1298)) < re- re- prefix + avaler avale v. With the β. forms compare the β. forms at vail v.² N.E.D. (1908) derives the word < Middle French revaler , revaller ( < re- + val vale n.¹). This etymology is less likely, since revaler only has the senses ‘to reduce the price of (something to a specified amount)’ (a1410) and ‘to fall’ (end of the 15th cent.)’, and is much rarer than ravaler.