Chapter 116

Aux*il"ia*ry (?; 106) , a. [L. auxiliarius , fr. auxilium help, aid, fr. augere to increase.] Conferring aid or help; helping; aiding; assisting; subsidiary; as auxiliary troops.

Auxiliary scales (Mus.) , the scales of relative or attendant keys. See under Attendant , a. -- Auxiliary verbs (Gram.) . See Auxiliary , n. , 3.

Auxiliary <Xpage=104>

Aux*il"ia*ry , n. ; pl. Auxiliaries (<?/) . 1. A helper; an assistant; a confederate in some action or enterprise.

2. (Mil.) pl. Foreign troops in the service of a nation at war; (rarely in sing. ), a member of the allied or subsidiary force.

3. (Gram.) A verb which helps to form the voices, modes, and tenses of other verbs; -- called, also, an auxiliary verb ; as, have , be , may , can , do , must , shall , and will , in English; \'88tre and avoir , in French; avere and essere , in Italian; estar and haber , in Spanish.

4. (Math.) A quantity introduced for the purpose of simplifying or facilitating some operation, as in equations or trigonometrical formul\'91.

Math. Dict.

Auxiliatory <Xpage=104>

Aux*il"ia*to*ry (?) , a. Auxiliary; helping. [Obs.]

Ava <Xpage=104>

A"va (?) , n. Same as Kava .

Johnston.

Avadavat <Xpage=104>

Av`a*da*vat" (?) , n. Same as Amadavat .

Avail <Xpage=104>

A*vail" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Availed (<?/); p. pr. & vb. n. Availing .] [OE. availen , fr. F. <?/ (L. ad ) + valoir to be worth, fr. L. valere to be strong, to be worth. See Valiant .] 1. To turn to the advantage of; to be of service to; to profit; to benefit; to help; as, artifices will not avail the sinner in the day of judgment .

O, what avails me now that honor high ! Milton.

2. To promote; to assist. [Obs.]

Pope.

To avail one's self of , to make use of; take advantage of.

Then shall they seek to avail themselves of names. Milton.

I have availed myself of the very first opportunity. Dickens.

Avail <Xpage=104>

A*vail" , v. i. To be of use or advantage; to answer the purpose; to have strength, force, or efficacy sufficient to accomplish the object; as, the plea in bar must avail , that is, be sufficient to defeat the suit; this scheme will not avail ; medicines will not avail to check the disease. "What signs avail ?"

Milton.

Words avail very little with me, young man. Sir W. Scott.

Avail <Xpage=104>

A*vail" (?) , n. 1. Profit; advantage toward success; benefit; value; as, labor, without economy, is of little avail .

The avail of a deathbed repentance. Jer. Taylor.

2. pl. Proceeds; as, the avails of a sale by auction .

The avails of their own industry. Stoddard.

Syn. -- Use; benefit; utility; profit; service.

Avail <Xpage=104>

A*vail" , v. t. & i. See Avale , v. [Obs.]

Spenser.

Availability <Xpage=104>

A*vail`a*bil"i*ty (?) , n. ; pl. Availabilities (<?/) . 1. The quality of being available; availableness.

&hand; The word is sometimes used derogatively in the sense of "mere availableness," or capability of success without regard to worthiness.

He was . . . nominated for his availability . Lowell.

2. That which is available.

Available <Xpage=104>

A*vail"a*ble (?) , a. 1. Having sufficient power, force, or efficacy, for the object; effectual; valid; as, an available plea . [Obs.]

Laws human are available by consent. Hooker.

2. Such as one may avail one's self of; capable of being used for the accomplishment of a purpose; usable; profitable; advantageous; convertible into a resource; as, an available measure; an available candidate.

Struggling to redeem, as he did, the available months and days out of so many that were unavailable. Carlyle.

Having no available funds with which to pay the calls on new shares. H. Spenser.

Availableness <Xpage=104>

A*vail"a*ble*ness , n. 1. Competent power; validity; efficacy; as, the availableness of a title . [Obs.]

2. Quality of being available; capability of being used for the purpose intended.

Sir M. Hale.

Avaiably <Xpage=104>

A*vai"a*bly , adv. In an available manner; profitably; advantageously; efficaciously.

Availment <Xpage=104>

A*vail"ment (?) , n. Profit; advantage. [Obs.]

Avalanche <Xpage=104>

Av"a*lanche` (?; 277) , n. [F. avalanche , fr. avaler to descend, to let down, from aval down, downward; <?/ (L. ad ) + val , L. vallis , valley. See Valley .] 1. A large mass or body of snow and ice sliding swiftly down a mountain side, or falling down a precipice.

2. A fall of earth, rocks, etc., similar to that of an avalanche of snow or ice.

3. A sudden, great, or irresistible descent or influx of anything.

Avale <Xpage=104>

A*vale" (?) , v. t. & i. [F. avaler to descend, to let down. See Avalanche .] 1. To cause to descend; to lower; to let fall; to doff. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

2. To bring low; to abase. [Obs.]

Sir H. Wotton.

3. (v. i.) To descend; to fall; to dismount. [Obs.]

And from their sweaty courses did avale . Spenser.

Avant <Xpage=104>

A*vant" (?) , n. [For avant-guard . Cf. Avaunt , Van .] The front of an army. [Obs.] See Van .

Avant-courier <Xpage=104>

A*vant"-cou`ri*er (?) , n. [F., fr. avant before + courrier . See Avaunt , and Courier .] A person dispatched before another person or company, to give notice of his or their approach.

Avant-guard <Xpage=104>

A*vant"-guard` (?; &root;277) , n. [F. avant before + E. guard , F. avant-garde . See Avaunt .] The van or advanced body of an army. See Vanguard .

Avarice <Xpage=104>

Av"a*rice (?) , n. [F. avaritia , fr. avarus avaricious, prob. fr. av<?/re to covert, fr. a root av to satiate one's self: cf. Gr. <?/, <?/, to satiate, Skr. av to satiate one's self, rejoice, protect.] 1. An excessive or inordinate desire of gain; greediness after wealth; covetousness; cupidity.

To desire money for its own sake, and in order to hoard it up, is avarice . Beattie.

2. An inordinate desire for some supposed good.

All are taught an avarice of praise. Goldsmith.

Avaricious <Xpage=104>

Av`a*ri"cious (?) , a. [Cf. F. avaricieux .] Actuated by avarice; greedy of gain; immoderately desirous of accumulating property.

Syn. -- Greedy; stingy; rapacious; griping; sordid; close. -- Avaricious , Covetous , Parsimonious , Penurious , Miserly , Niggardly . The avaricious eagerly grasp after it at the expense of others, though not of necessity with a design to save, since a man may be covetous and yet a spendthrift. The penurious , parsimonious , and miserly save money by disgraceful self-denial, and the niggardly by meanness in their dealing with others. We speak of persons as covetous in getting, avaricious in retaining, parsimonious in expending, penurious or miserly in modes of living, niggardly in dispensing.

-- Av`a*ri"cious*ly , adv -- Av`a*ri"cious*ness , n.

Avarous <Xpage=104>

Av"a*rous (?) , a. [L. avarus .] Avaricious. [Obs.]

Avast <Xpage=104>

A*vast" (?) , interj. [Corrupted from D. houd vast hold fast. See Hold , v. t. , and Fast , a. ] (Naut.) Cease; stop; stay. " Avast heaving."

Totten.

Avatar <Xpage=104>

Av`a*tar" (?) , n. [Skr. avat\'83ra descent; ava from + root t<?/ to cross, pass over.] 1. (Hindoo Myth.) The descent of a deity to earth, and his incarnation as a man or an animal; -- chiefly associated with the incarnations of Vishnu.

2. Incarnation; manifestation as an object of worship or admiration.

Avaunce <Xpage=104>

A*vaunce" (?) , v. t. & i. [See Advance .] To advance; to profit.

Chaucer.

Avaunt <Xpage=104>

A*vaunt" (?) , interj. [F. avant forward, fr. L. ab + ante before. Cf. Avant , Advance .] Begone; depart; -- a word of contempt or abhorrence, equivalent to the phrase "Get thee gone."

Avaunt <Xpage=104>

A*vaunt" , v. t. & i. 1. To advance; to move forward; to elevate. [Obs.]

Spenser.

2. To depart; to move away. [Obs.]

Coverdale.

Avaunt <Xpage=104>

A*vaunt" , v. t. & i. [OF. avanter ; <?/ (L. ad ) + vanter . See Vaunt .] To vaunt; to boast. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Avaunt <Xpage=104>

A*vaunt" , n. A vaunt; to boast. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Avauntour <Xpage=104>

A*vaunt"our (?) , n. [OF. avanteur .] A boaster. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Ave <Xpage=104>

A"ve (?) , n. [L., hail.] 1. An ave Maria.

He repeated Aves and Credos. Macaulay.

2. A reverential salutation.

Their loud applause and aves vehement. Shak.

Avel <Xpage=104>

A*vel (?) , v. t. [L. avellere .] To pull away. [Obs.]

Yet are not these parts avelled . Sir T. Browne.

Avellane <Xpage=104>

A*vel"lane (?) , a. [Cf. It. avellana a filbert, fr. L. Avella or Abella a city of Campania.] (Her.) In the form of four unhusked filberts; as, an avellane cross .

Ave Maria, Ave Mary <Xpage=104>

A"ve Ma*ri"a (?) , A"ve Ma"ry (?) . [From the first words of the Roman Catholic prayer to the Virgin Mary; L. ave hail, Maria Mary.] 1. A salutation and prayer to the Virgin Mary, as mother of God; -- used in the Roman Catholic church.

To number Ave Maries on his beads. Shak.

2. A particular time (as in Italy, at the ringing of the bells about half an hour after sunset, and also at early dawn), when the people repeat the Ave Maria.

Ave Maria ! blessed be the hour ! Byron.

Avena <Xpage=104>

A*ve"na (?) , n. [L.] (Bot.) A genus of grasses, including the common oat (Avena sativa) ; the oat grasses.

Avenaceous <Xpage=104>

Av`e*na"ceous (?) , a. [L. avenaceus , fr. avena oats.] Belonging to, or resembling, oats or the oat grasses.

Avenage <Xpage=104>

Av"e*nage (?) , n. [F. avenage , fr. L. avena oats.] (Old Law) A quantity of oats paid by a tenant to a landlord in lieu of rent.

Jacob.

Avener <Xpage=104>

Av"e*ner (?) , n. [OF. avenier , fr. aveine , avaine , avoine , oats, F. avoine , L. avena .] (Feud. Law) An officer of the king's stables whose duty it was to provide oats for the horses. [Obs.]

Avenge <Xpage=104>

A*venge" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Avenged (<?/); p. pr. & vb. n. Avenging (<?/).] [OF. avengier ; L. ad + vindicare to lay claim to, to avenge, revenge. See Vengeance .] 1. To take vengeance for; to exact satisfaction for by punishing the injuring party; to vindicate by inflicting pain or evil on a wrongdoer.

He will avenge the blood of his servants. Deut. xxxii. 43.

Avenge , O Lord, thy slaughtered saints, whose bones Lie scattered on the Alpine mountains cold. Milton.

He had avenged himself on them by havoc such as England had never before seen. Macaulay.

2. To treat revengefully; to wreak vengeance on. [Obs.]

Thy judgment in avenging thine enemies. Bp. Hall.

Syn. -- To Avenge , Revenge . To avenge is to inflict punishment upon evil doers in behalf of ourselves, or others for whom we act; as, to avenge one's wrongs; to avenge the injuries of the suffering and innocent . It is to inflict pain for the sake of vindication, or retributive justice. To revenge is to inflict pain or injury for the indulgence of resentful and malicious feelings. The former may at times be a duty; the latter is one of the worst exhibitions of human character.

I avenge myself upon another, or I avenge another, or I avenge a wrong. I revenge only myself, and that upon another. C. J. Smith.

Avenge <Xpage=104>

A*venge" , v. i. To take vengeance.

Levit. xix. 18.

Avenge <Xpage=104>

A*venge" , n. Vengeance; revenge. [Obs.]

Spenser.

Avengeance <Xpage=104>

A*venge"ance (?) , n. Vengeance. [Obs.]

Avengeful <Xpage=104>

A*venge"ful (?) , a. Vengeful. [Obs.]

Spenser.

Avengement <Xpage=104>

A*venge"ment (?) , n. The inflicting of retributive punishment; satisfaction taken. [R.]

Milton.

Avenger <Xpage=104>

A*ven"ger (?) , n. 1. One who avenges or vindicates; as, an avenger of blood .

2. One who takes vengeance. [Obs.]

Milton.

Avengeress <Xpage=104>

A*ven"ger*ess , n. A female avenger. [Obs.]

Spenser.

Avenious <Xpage=104>

A*ve"ni*ous (?) , a. [Pref. a- + L. vena a vein.] (Bot.) Being without veins or nerves, as the leaves of certain plants.

Avenor <Xpage=104>

Av"e*nor (?) , n. See Avener . [Obs.]

Avens <Xpage=104>

Av"ens (?) , n. [OF. avence .] (Bot.) A plant of the genus Geum , esp. Geum urbanum , or herb bennet.

Aventail <Xpage=104>

Av"en*tail (?) , n. [OF. esventail . Cf. Ventail .] The movable front to a helmet; the ventail.

Aventine <Xpage=104>

Av"en*tine (?) , a. Pertaining to Mons Aventinus , one of the seven hills on which Rome stood.

Bryant.

Aventine <Xpage=104>

Av"en*tine , n. A post of security or defense. [Poetic]

Into the castle's tower, The only Aventine that now is left him. Beau. & Fl.

Aventre <Xpage=104>

A*ven"tre (?) , v. t. To thrust forward (at a venture), as a spear. [Obs.]

Spenser.

Aventure <Xpage=104>

A*ven"ture (?; 135) , n. [See Adventure , n. ] 1. Accident; chance; adventure. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

2. (Old Law) A mischance causing a person's death without felony, as by drowning, or falling into the fire.

Aventurine <Xpage=104>

A*ven"tu*rine (?) , n. [F. aventurine : cf. It. avventurino .] 1. A kind of glass, containing gold-colored spangles. It was produced in the first place by the accidental ( par aventure ) dropping of some brass filings into a pot of melted glass.

2. (Min.) A variety of translucent quartz, spangled throughout with scales of yellow mica.

\'f7 feldspar , a variety of oligoclase with internal firelike reflections due to the presence of minute crystals, probably of hematite; sunstone.

Avenue <Xpage=104>

Av"e*nue (?) , n. [F. avenue , fr. avenir to come to, L. advenire . See Advene .] 1. A way or opening for entrance into a place; a passage by which a place may by reached; a way of approach or of exit. "The avenues leading to the city by land."

Macaulay.

On every side were expanding new avenues of inquiry. Milman.

2. The principal walk or approach to a house which is withdrawn from the road, especially, such approach bordered on each side by trees; any broad passageway thus bordered.

An avenue of tall elms and branching chestnuts. W. Black.

3. A broad street; as, the Fifth Avenue in New York .

Aver <Xpage=104>

A"ver (?) , n. [OF. aver domestic animal, whence LL. averia , pl. cattle. See Habit , and cf. Average .] A work horse, or working ox. [Obs. or Dial. Eng.]

<-- p. 105 -->

Aver <Xpage=105>

A*ver" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Averred (<?/); p. pr. & vb. n. Averring .] [F. av\'82rer , LL. adverare , averare ; L. ad + versus true. See Verity .] 1. To assert, or prove, the truth of. [Obs.]

2. (Law) To avouch or verify; to offer to verify; to prove or justify. See Averment .

3. To affirm with confidence; to declare in a positive manner, as in confidence of asserting the truth.

It is sufficient that the very fact hath its foundation in truth, as I do seriously aver is the case. Fielding.

Then all averred I had killed the bird. Coleridge.

Syn. -- To assert; affirm; asseverate. See Affirm .

Average <Xpage=105>

Av"er*age (?) , n. [OF. average , LL. averagium , prob. fr. OF. aver , F. avoir , property, horses, cattle, etc.; prop. infin., to have, from L. habere to have. Cf. F. av\'82rage small cattle, and avarie (perh. of different origin) damage to ship or cargo, port dues. The first meaning was pe<?/<?/<?/ the service of carting a feudal lord's wheat, then charge for carriage, the contribution towards loss of things carried, in proportion to the amount of each person's property. Cf. Aver , n. , Avercorn , Averpenny .] 1. (OLd Eng. Law) That service which a tenant owed his lord, to be done by the work beasts of the tenant, as the carriage of wheat, turf, etc.

2. [Cf. F. avarie damage to ship or cargo.] (Com.) (a) A tariff or duty on goods, etc. [Obs.] (b) Any charge in addition to the regular charge for freight of goods shipped. (c) A contribution to a loss or charge which has been imposed upon one of several for the general benefit; damage done by sea perils. (d) The equitable and proportionate distribution of loss or expense among all interested.