ăvis, is, f. (abl. sing. avi and ave; cf. Varr. L. L. 8, 66 Müll.; Prisc. p. 765 P.; Rhem. Palaem. p. 1374 P.; Neue, Formenl. I. pp. 218, 222; in the lang. of religion, the form avi is most common; v. infra) [cf. Sanscr. vā (which may imply av), to blow (to wave); vis, a bird; Zend, vi; with which Curt. compares oi)-wno/s, a large bird, and Benfey ai)-eto/s, an eagle]. I.Lit., a bird; or collect., the winged tribe: Liber captivos avis ferae consimilis est, Plaut. Capt. 1, 2, 7: videmus novis avibus canere undique silvas, Lucr. 1, 256: arguta, Prop. 1, 18, 30: istā enim avi (sc. aquilā) volat nulla vehementius, Cic. Div. 2, 70, 144: ave ad perfugia litorum tendente, Plin. 10, 3, 3, 9; Vulg. Gen. 1, 2; ib. Deut. 4, 17; ib. Marc. 4, 32; ib. Luc. 13, 34 et saep.—In Varr. once of bees: de incredibili earum avium naturā audi, Varr. R. R. 3, 16, 3.—A description of birds is found ap. Plin. lib. 10; of their habits, ap. Varr. R. R. 3, 3 sq. and ap. Col. 8, 1 sq.—II.Transf.A. Esp., in reference to auguries, since the Romans took their omens or auguries from birds (v. augurium and auspicium): post quam avem aspexit templo Anchises, Naev. ap. Prob. ad Verg. E. 6, 31.—Hence, avis, meton., = omen a sign, omen, portent, freq. with the epithets bona, mala, sinistra ( = bona; v. sinister), adversa, etc.: liquido exeo foras Auspicio avi sinistrā, Plaut. Ep. 2, 2, 2: ducam legiones meas Avi sinistrā, auspicio liquido atque ex sententiā, id. Ps. 2, 4, 72: solvere secundo rumore aversāque avi, poët. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 16, 29, where B. and K. read adversā: malā ducis avi domum,
with a bad omen
, Hor. C. 1, 15, 5: este bonis avibus visi natoque mihique, Ov. F. 1, 513; so id. M. 15, 640: di, qui secundis avibus in proelium miserint, Liv. 6, 12, 9: Quā ego hunc amorem mihi esse avi dicam datum?Plaut. Cas. 3, 4, 26: Hac veniat natalis avi, Tib. 2, 2, 21.—In abl., form ave: tunc ave deceptus falsā, Ov. M. 5, 147.—B. Comically, for a man in the garb of a bird: Sed quae nam illaec est avis, quae huc cum tunicis advenit?Plaut. Poen. 5, 2, 15.—C. Avis alba, v. albus, I. B. 3. e.
ā-vĭus, a, um, adj. [via], that is out of the way, remote, out of the right way; also, untrodden, unfrequented, solitary, lonely, etc. (while devius signifies leading from the right way; and invius, having no way, pathless; in the poets and histt. freq.). I.Lit.A. Silvani lucus extra murum est avius, Plaut. Aul. 4, 6, 8: Avia Pieridum peragro loca, nullius ante Trita solo, Lucr. 1, 926: nemora avia, id. 2, 145: virgulta, Verg. G. 2, 328: montes, Hor. C. 1, 23, 2: aviis itineribus,
through by-ways
, Sall. J. 54, 9: cujus (Caesaris) sibi species itinere avio occurrisset, Suet. Aug. 96: solitudines, Vell. 2, 55: avia commeatibus loca, Liv. 9, 19, 16.—Also, B.Subst.: āvĭum, ii, n., a by-way, a desert, wilderness; in a pun with avium, from avis: hunc avium dulcedo ducit ad avium, Auct. ad Her. 4, 21, 29.—More freq. in plur.: āvĭa, ōrum: avia cursu Dum sequor, et notā excedo regione viarum, Verg. A. 2, 737: per avia ac derupta, Tac. A. 6, 21: per avia, Ov M. 1, 701; 2, 205.—So with gen.: avia vinerum, Vell. 2, 75: nemorum, Ov. M. 1, 179: saltuum, Tac. A. 2. 68: Oceani, id. ib. 2, 15: Armeniae, id. ib. 13, 37.—C.Poet., of persons, wandering, straying: Continuo in montes sese avius abdidit altos, Verg. A. 11, 810.—II.Trop.: Avius a verā longe ratione vagaris,
astray
, Lucr. 2, 82; 2, 229; 2, 740; 3, 463: init nunc avia coepto Consilia, i. e.