Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages). Noah Webster
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.
µ In any stage of pleadings, when either party advances new matter, he avers it to be true, by using this form of words: ½and this he is ready to verify.¸ This was formerly called an averment. It modern pleading, it is termed a verification.
Blackstone.
AÏver¶nal (?), AÏver¶niÏan (?), } 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¶erÏpen·ny (?), n. [Aver, n. + penny.] (Old Eng. Law) Money paid by a tenant in lieu of the service of average.
AÏver¶roÏism (?), n. The tenets of the Averroists.
AÏver¶roÏist, 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·erÏrun¶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·erÏrunÏca¶tion (?), n. [Cf. OF. averroncation.] 1. The act of averting. [Obs.]
2. Eradication. [R.]
De Quincey.
Av·erÏrunÏca¶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·erÏsa¶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.
AÏverse¶ (?), 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.
µ 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.
AÏverse¶, v. t. & i. To turn away. [Obs.]
B. Jonson.
AÏverse¶ly, adv. 1. Backward; in a backward direction; as, emitted aversely.
2. With repugnance or aversion; unwillingly.
AÏverse¶ness, n. The quality of being averse; opposition of mind; unwillingness.
AÏver¶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.
µ 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.
AÏvert¶ (?), 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 a???t the eyes from an object; to ward off, or prevent, the occurrence or effects of; as, how can the danger be averted? ½To 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.
AÏvert¶, v. i. To turn away. [Archaic]
Co?? and averting from our neighbor's good.
Thomson.
AÏvert¶ed, a. Turned away, esp. as an expression of feeling; also, offended; unpropitious.
Who scornful pass it with averted eye.
Keble.
AÏvert¶er (?), n. One who, or that which, averts.
AÏvert¶iÏble (?), a.ÿCapable of being averted; preventable.
AÏver¶tiÏment (?), n. Advertisement. [Obs.]
Ø A¶ves (?), n. pl. [L., pl. of avis bird.] (Zo”l.) The class of Vertebrata that includes the birds.
µ 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: Carinat‘, including all existing flying birds; Ratit‘, 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 relating to their habits. See Beak, Bird, Odontonithes.
Ø AÏves¶ta (?), n. The Zoroastrian scriptures. See ZendÐAvesta.
A¶viÏan (?), a. Of or instrument to birds.
A¶viÏaÏry (?), 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.