Present participle of avail; making use of something or taking advantage of an opportunity.
From 'avail' plus the present participle suffix '-ing,' which comes from Old English '-ung.' This suffix creates the continuous or progressive aspect of verbs.
The phrase 'availing oneself of' carries an old-fashioned formality that makes it perfect for comedy—when modern characters use it, it creates an instant humorous contrast with contemporary speech.
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