I.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 οἰ-ωνός, a large bird, and Benfey αἰ-ετός, 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.
