Part 466

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.]