Part 464

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.