Lewis & Short

ē-vălesco, lŭi, 3, v. inch. n., to become strong, increase in strength, to increase, grow (cf.: vix illa, quae παραγόμενα vocant, nobis permittimus, sed hoc feliciter, evaluit, Quint. 8, 6, 32; not ante-Aug.).

  1. I. Lit.: cum evaluissent flagella pedes binos, Plin. 17, 15, 25, § 116; cf. rami, id. 16, 30, 54, § 125.
  2. II. Trop.
    1. A. In gen.: adjuta cura natura magis evalescit, Quint. 2, 8, 5; Tac. A. 14, 58 fin.: affectatio quietis in tumultum evaluit, strengthened into, etc., id. H. 1, 80: indoles naturalis, adjuta praeceptis, evalescit, Sen. Ep. 94, 31.
      1. 2. Transf.
        1. a. In the temp. perf., to have power or ability for any thing, to be able: ut ne ipsa quidem natura in hoc ita evaluerit, ut non, etc., Quint. 10, 2, 10: sed non Dardaniae medicari cuspidis ictum Evaluit, * Verg. A. 7, 757; so with a subjectclause, * Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 201; Stat. S. 5, 2, 79; Claud. Cons. Honor. 303; Rapt. Pros. 3, 92.
        2. b. To be worth in price, Macr. S. 2, 13 fin.
    2. B. In partic., of a word or expression, to prevail, get into vogue: ita nationis nomen, non gentis evaluisse paulatim, Tac. G. 2 fin.; so Quint. 9, 3, 13.