'availment' originates from Old French, specifically the verb 'availer' (related to 'valoir'), where the Latin root 'valēre' meant 'to be strong, to be worth'.

'availment' changed from Middle English forms such as 'availement' (derived from the verb 'avail' meaning 'to help or be of use') and eventually became the modern English noun 'availment' by the addition of the suffix '-ment'.

Initially related to the Latin sense 'to be strong' or 'to be worth', the sense shifted in Old French and Middle English to 'to be of use' or 'to help', and in modern English 'availment' denotes the act or result of being of use or obtaining benefit.