avail

avail   /əveɪl/  noun   [ U  ]

use, purpose, advantage, or profit

    We tried to persuade her not to resign, but  to no  avail  (= did not succeed) .    

  My attempts to improve the situation were  of little/no  avail.

avail   /əveɪl/  verb   [ T  ] old use    

 

to help or be useful to someone or something

    Our efforts availed us  nothing   (= did not help) .