avis Latin · revision 2754

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 235–200 BC, Naevius|origins=ine-pro *h₂éwis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈa.wɪs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈaː.vis]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''avis''' ''f'' (genitive avis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+ The ablative singular is ''avī'' or ''ave'', the former usual in the language of religion.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*awi-|t=bird]], [[inh|ine-pro|*h₂éwis|t=bird]], an i-stem; de Vaan argues against the view, current since Schindler, that it was a root noun, and connects it with [[ovum|alt=ōvum]] “egg” as a vr̥ddhi derivative.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) Cognate with [[xum|avif]], with [[sa|वि|tr=ví-|t=bird]] and [[ae|vaii-|t=bird]], [[grc|αἰετός|tr=aietós|t=eagle]] from *h₂ewi-eto-, [[hy|հաւ|tr=haw|t=bird]] and the Brittonic word for “duck”, [[wlm|hwyat]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012) The compounds [[auspex]] “bird-watcher, augur” and [[auceps]] “bird-catcher” contain it.^(de Vaan 2008) Festus derived it from [[adventus]], and Isidore of Seville explained that birds have no fixed roads but run through trackless places ([[m|la|avia]]).^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Naevius onwards,^(de Vaan 2008) who has Anchises observe a [[m|en|bird]] in the sacred precinct, and Ennius has Remus watching alone for a favourable bird.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Besides the bird as a creature, caught or served at table, it meant poultry (''aves cohortales''), and ''avis alba'' or ''avis rara'', a white or rare bird, was a marvel.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Many birds were named by an epithet: ''avis Afra'' the guinea fowl, ''avis Iunonis'' the peacock, ''avis Romana'' the eagle.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In augury it was the bird observed as an [[m|en|omen]] and hence the omen itself, ''avi sinistra'', “with a bad omen”, or ''secundis avibus'', “with good omens”.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Poets applied it to the constellations of the Swan, the Crow and the Eagle, and Varro once calls bees ''aves''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Medieval texts use it especially of birds of prey and game birds, and of the royal birds reserved for the king;^(DMLBS) Köbler notes ''avis regia'' for the falcon.^(Köbler 2010) It survives as Spanish and Portuguese ''ave''.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it of a bird observed for an omen.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius has Remus watching for the favourable bird.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a wild bird and of a bad omen.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro derives ''auceps'' from catching birds.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses ''avis alba'' of a rarity.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid names constellations ''avis''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|bird]], and in the plural poultry, while ''avis alba'' is a marvel.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # With an epithet, a particular bird, as in ''avis Iunonis'', the peacock, and ''avis Romana'', the eagle.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(augury)'' A bird observed for omens; an [[m|en|omen]], an augury.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # ''(astronomy)'' The constellation of the Swan, the Crow or the Eagle.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A bird of prey; a game bird; a royal bird.^(DMLBS)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[auca]]

+ * [[aucella]]

+ * [[aucellus]]

+ * [[auceps]]

+ * [[aviārium]]

+ * [[aviārius]]

+ * [[avicella]]

+ * [[avicula]]

+ * [[aviculārius]]

+ * [[avipēs]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[passer]]

+ * [[ōvum]]

+ * [[en|auspice]]

+ * [[en|aviary]]

+ * [[en|aviation]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes ''avis'', any bird, from [[ales|alt=āles]], a larger bird and the augurs' term for birds observed in flight, and [[volucris]], anything that flies, insects included.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}