Chapter 68

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

Av"a*rice (v"*rs), n. [F. avaritia, fr. avarus avaricious, prob. fr. avre to covet, fr. a root av to satiate one's self: cf. Gr. 'a`menai, 'a^sai, 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.

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.

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

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

Av`a*tar" (&?;), n. [Skr. avatâra 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.

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

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."

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

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

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

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

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

||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.

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

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

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.

{ ||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.

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

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

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.

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.]

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.

A*venge", v. i. To take vengeance. Levit. xix. 18.

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

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

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

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

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

2. One who takes vengeance. [Obs.] Milton.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

A"ver ("vr), 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 !>

A*ver" (*vr"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Averred (*vrd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Averring.] [F. avérer, 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.

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. avérage small cattle, and avarie (perh. of different origin) damage to ship or cargo, port dues. The first meaning was perh. 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.

General average, a contribution made, by all parties concerned in a sea adventure, toward a loss occasioned by the voluntary sacrifice of the property of some of the parties in interest for the benefit of all. It is called general average, because it falls upon the gross amount of ship, cargo, and freight at risk and saved by the sacrifice. Kent. -- Particular average signifies the damage or partial loss happening to the ship, or cargo, or freight, in consequence of some fortuitous or unavoidable accident; and it is borne by the individual owners of the articles damaged, or by their insurers. -- Petty averages are sundry small charges, which occur regularly, and are necessarily defrayed by the master in the usual course of a voyage; such as port charges, common pilotage, and the like, which formerly were, and in some cases still are, borne partly by the ship and partly by the cargo. In the clause commonly found in bills of lading, "primage and average accustomed," average means a kind of composition established by usage for such charges, which were formerly assessed by way of average. Arnould. Abbott. Phillips.

3. A mean proportion, medial sum or quantity, made out of unequal sums or quantities; an arithmetical mean. Thus, if A loses 5 dollars, B 9, and C 16, the sum is 30, and the average 10.

4. Any medial estimate or general statement derived from a comparison of diverse specific cases; a medium or usual size, quantity, quality, rate, etc. "The average of sensations." Paley.

5. pl. In the English corn trade, the medial price of the several kinds of grain in the principal corn markets.

On an average, taking the mean of unequal numbers or quantities.

Av"er*age (&?;), a. 1. Pertaining to an average or mean; medial; containing a mean proportion; of a mean size, quality, ability, etc.; ordinary; usual; as, an average rate of profit; an average amount of rain; the average Englishman; beings of the average stamp.

2. According to the laws of averages; as, the loss must be made good by average contribution.

Av"er*age, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Averaged (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Averaging.] 1. To find the mean of, when sums or quantities are unequal; to reduce to a mean.

2. To divide among a number, according to a given proportion; as, to average a loss.

3. To do, accomplish, get, etc., on an average.

Av"er*age, v. i. To form, or exist in, a mean or medial sum or quantity; to amount to, or to be, on an average; as, the losses of the owners will average twenty five dollars each; these spars average ten feet in length.

A"ver*corn` (&?;), n. [Aver, n. + corn.] (Old Eng. Law) A reserved rent in corn, formerly paid to religious houses by their tenants or farmers. Kennet.

A*ver"ment (&?;), n. [Cf. OF. averement, LL. averamentum. See Aver, v. t.] 1. The act of averring, or that which is averred; affirmation; positive assertion.

Signally has this averment received illustration in the course of recent events. I. Taylor.

2. Verification; establishment by evidence. Bacon.

3. (Law) A positive statement of facts; an allegation; an offer to justify or prove what is alleged.

In any stage of pleadings, when either party advances new matter, he avers it to be true, by using this form of words: "and this he is ready to verify." This was formerly called an averment. It modern pleading, it is termed a verification. Blackstone.

{ A*ver"nal (&?;), A*ver"ni*an (&?;), } a. Of or pertaining to Avernus, a lake of Campania, in Italy, famous for its poisonous vapors, which ancient writers fancied were so malignant as to kill birds flying over it. It was represented by the poets to be connected with the infernal regions.

Av"er*pen`ny (&?;), n. [Aver, n. + penny.] (Old Eng. Law) Money paid by a tenant in lieu of the service of average.

A*ver"ro*ism (&?;), n. The tenets of the Averroists.

A*ver"ro*ist, n. One of a sect of peripatetic philosophers, who appeared in Italy before the restoration of learning; so denominated from Averroes, or Averrhoes, a celebrated Arabian philosopher. He held the doctrine of monopsychism.

Av`er*run"cate (&?;), v. t. [L. averruncare to avert; a, ab, off + verruncare to turn; formerly derived from ab and eruncare to root out. Cf. Aberuncate.] 1. To avert; to ward off. [Obs.] Hudibras.

2. To root up. [Obs.] Johnson.

Av`er*run*ca"tion (&?;), n. [Cf. OF. averroncation.] 1. The act of averting. [Obs.]

2. Eradication. [R.] De Quincey.

Av`er*run*ca"tor (&?;), n. [Cf. Aberuncator.] An instrument for pruning trees, consisting of two blades, or a blade and a hook, fixed on the end of a long rod.

Av`er*sa"tion (&?;), n. [L. aversatio, fr. aversari to turn away, v. intens. of avertere. See Avert.] A turning from with dislike; aversion. [Obs.or Archaic]

Some men have a natural aversation to some vices or virtues, and a natural affection to others. Jer. Taylor.

A*verse" (&?;), a. [L. aversus, p. p. of avertere. See Avert.] 1. Turned away or backward. [Obs.]

The tracks averse a lying notice gave, And led the searcher backward from the cave. Dryden.

2. Having a repugnance or opposition of mind; disliking; disinclined; unwilling; reluctant.

Averse alike to flatter, or offend. Pope.

Men who were averse to the life of camps. Macaulay.

Pass by securely as men averse from war. Micah ii. 8.

The prevailing usage now is to employ to after averse and its derivatives rather than from, as was formerly the usage. In this the word is in agreement with its kindred terms, hatred, dislike, dissimilar, contrary, repugnant, etc., expressing a relation or an affection of the mind to an object.

Syn. -- Averse, Reluctant, Adverse. Averse expresses an habitual, though not of necessity a very strong, dislike; as, averse to active pursuits; averse to study. Reluctant, a term of the of the will, implies an internal struggle as to making some sacrifice of interest or feeling; as, reluctant to yield; reluctant to make the necessary arrangements; a reluctant will or consent. Adverse denotes active opposition or hostility; as, adverse interests; adverse feelings, plans, or movements; the adverse party.

A*verse", v. t. & i. To turn away. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

A*verse"ly, adv. 1. Backward; in a backward direction; as, emitted aversely.

2. With repugnance or aversion; unwillingly.

A*verse"ness, n. The quality of being averse; opposition of mind; unwillingness.

A*ver"sion (&?;), n. [L. aversio: cf. F. aversion. See Avert.] 1. A turning away. [Obs.]

Adhesion to vice and aversion from goodness. Bp. Atterbury.

2. Opposition or repugnance of mind; fixed dislike; antipathy; disinclination; reluctance.

Mutual aversion of races. Prescott.

His rapacity had made him an object of general aversion. Macaulay.

It is now generally followed by to before the object. [See Averse.] Sometimes towards and for are found; from is obsolete.

A freeholder is bred with an aversion to subjection. Addison.

His aversion towards the house of York. Bacon.

It is not difficult for a man to see that a person has conceived an aversion for him. Spectator.

The Khasias . . . have an aversion to milk. J. D. Hooker.

3. The object of dislike or repugnance.

Pain their aversion, pleasure their desire. Pope.

Syn. -- Antipathy; dislike; repugnance; disgust. See Dislike.

A*vert" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Averted; p. pr. & vb. n. Averting.] [L. avertere; a, ab + vertere to turn: cf. OF. avertir. See Verse, n.] To turn aside, or away; as, to avert the eyes from an object; to ward off, or prevent, the occurrence or effects of; as, how can the danger be averted? "To avert his ire." Milton.

When atheists and profane persons do hear of so many discordant and contrary opinions in religion, it doth avert them from the church. Bacon.

Till ardent prayer averts the public woe. Prior.

A*vert", v. i. To turn away. [Archaic]

Cold and averting from our neighbor's good. Thomson.

A*vert"ed, a. Turned away, esp. as an expression of feeling; also, offended; unpropitious.

Who scornful pass it with averted eye. Keble.

A*vert"er (&?;), n. One who, or that which, averts.

A*vert"i*ble (&?;), a. Capable of being averted; preventable.

A*ver"ti*ment (&?;), n. Advertisement. [Obs.]

||A"ves (&?;), n. pl. [L., pl. of avis bird.] (Zoöl.) The class of Vertebrata that includes the birds.

Aves, or birds, have a complete double circulation, oviparous, reproduction, front limbs peculiarly modified as wings; and they bear feathers. All existing birds have a horny beak, without teeth; but some Mesozoic fossil birds (Odontornithes) had conical teeth inserted in both jaws. The principal groups are: Carinatæ, including all existing flying birds; Ratitæ, including the ostrich and allies, the apteryx, and the extinct moas; Odontornithes, or fossil birds with teeth.

The ordinary birds are classified largely by the structure of the beak and feet, which are in direct relation to their habits. See Beak, Bird, Odontonithes.

||A*ves"ta (&?;), n. The Zoroastrian scriptures. See Zend-Avesta.

A"vi*an (&?;), a. Of or instrument to birds.

A"vi*a*ry (&?;), n.; pl. Aviaries (&?;). [L. aviarium, fr. aviarius pertaining to birds, fr. avis bird, akin to Gr, &?;, Skr. vi.] A house, inclosure, large cage, or other place, for keeping birds confined; a bird house.

Lincolnshire may be termed the aviary of England. Fuller.

A`vi*a"tion (&?;), n. The art or science of flying.

A"vi*a`tor (&?;), n. (a) An experimenter in aviation. (b) A flying machine.

||A*vic"u*la (&?;), n. [L., small bird.] (Zoöl.) A genus of marine bivalves, having a pearly interior, allied to the pearl oyster; -- so called from a supposed resemblance of the typical species to a bird.

A*vic"u*lar (&?;), a. [L. avicula a small bird, dim. of avis bird.] Of or pertaining to a bird or to birds.

||A*vic`u*la"ri*a (&?;), n. pl. [NL. See Avicular.] (Zoöl.) See prehensile processes on the cells of some Bryozoa, often having the shape of a bird's bill.

A"vi*cul`ture (?; 135), n. [L. avis bird + cultura culture.] (Zoöl.) Rearing and care of birds.

Av"id (&?;), a. [L. avidus, fr. av&?;re to long: cf. F. avide. See Avarice.] Longing eagerly for; eager; greedy. "Avid of gold, yet greedier of renown." Southey.

A*vid"i*ous (&?;), a. Avid.

A*vid"i*ous*ly, adv. Eagerly; greedily.

A*vid"i*ty (&?;), n. [L. aviditas, fr. avidus: cf. F. avidité. See Avid.] Greediness; strong appetite; eagerness; intenseness of desire; as, to eat with avidity.

His books were received and read with avidity. Milward.

A*vie" (&?;), adv. [Pref. a- + vie.] Emulously. [Obs.]

||A`vi*fau"na (&?;), n. [NL., fr. L. avis bird + E. fauna.] (Zoöl.) The birds, or all the kinds of birds, inhabiting a region.

Av`i*ga"to (&?;), n. See Avocado.

A`vignon" ber"ry (&?;). (Bot.) The fruit of the Rhamnus infectorius, eand of other species of the same genus; -- so called from the city of Avignon, in France. It is used by dyers and painters for coloring yellow. Called also French berry.

A*vile" (&?;), v. t. [OF. aviler, F. avilir; a (L. ad) + vil vile. See Vile.] To abase or debase; to vilify; to depreciate. [Obs.]

Want makes us know the price of what we avile. B. Jonson.

A*vis" (&?;), n. [F. avis. See Advice.] Advice; opinion; deliberation. [Obs.] Chaucer.

A*vise" (&?;), v. t. [F. aviser. See Advise, v. t.] 1. To look at; to view; to think of. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. To advise; to counsel. [Obs.] Shak.

To avise one's self, to consider with one's self, to reflect, to deliberate. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Now therefore, if thou wilt enriched be, Avise thee well, and change thy willful mood. Spenser.

A*vise", v. i. To consider; to reflect. [Obs.]

A*vise"ful (&?;), a. Watchful; circumspect. [Obs.]

With sharp, aviseful eye. Spenser.

A*vise"ly, adv. Advisedly. [Obs.] Chaucer.

A*vise"ment (&?;), n. Advisement; observation; deliberation. [Obs.]

A*vi"sion (&?;), n. Vision. [Obs.] Chaucer.

A*vi"so (&?;), n. [Sp.] 1. Information; advice.

2. An advice boat, or dispatch boat.

||Av`o*ca"do (&?;), n. [Corrupted from the Mexican ahuacatl: cf. Sp. aguacate, F. aguacaté, avocat, G. avogadobaum.] The pulpy fruit of Persea gratissima, a tree of tropical America. It is about the size and shape of a large pear; -- called also avocado pear, alligator pear, midshipman's butter.

||Av`o*cat (&?;), n. [F.] An advocate.

Av"o*cate (&?;), v. t. [L. avocatus, p. p. of avocare; a, ab + vocare to call. Cf. Avoke, and see Vocal, a.] To call off or away; to withdraw; to transfer to another tribunal. [Obs. or Archaic]

One who avocateth his mind from other occupations. Barrow.

He, at last, . . . avocated the cause to Rome. Robertson.

Av`o*ca"tion (&?;), n. [L. avocatio.] 1. A calling away; a diversion. [Obs. or Archaic]

Impulses to duty, and powerful avocations from sin. South.

2. That which calls one away from one's regular employment or vocation.

Heaven is his vocation, and therefore he counts earthly employments avocations. Fuller.

By the secular cares and avocations which accompany marriage the clergy have been furnished with skill in common life. Atterbury.

In this sense the word is applied to the smaller affairs of life, or occasional calls which summon a person to leave his ordinary or principal business. Avocation (in the singular) for vocation is usually avoided by good writers.