‖n. [ L. ] (Bot.) A genus of grasses, including the common oat (Avena sativa); the oat grasses. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. avenaceus, fr. avena oats. ] Belonging to, or resembling, oats or the oat grasses. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. avenage, fr. L. avena oats. ] (Old Law) A quantity of oats paid by a tenant to a landlord in lieu of rent. Jacob. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. avena eats. ] (Chem.) A crystalline globulin, contained in oat kernels, very similar in composition to excelsin, but different in reactions and crystalline form. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ OF. avenier, fr. aveine, avaine, avoine, oats, F. avoine, L. avena. ] (Feud. Law) An officer of the king's stables whose duty it was to provide oats for the horses. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Avenged (&unr_;); p. pr. & vb. n. Avenging (&unr_;). ] [ OF. avengier; L. ad + vindicare to lay claim to, to avenge, revenge. See Vengeance. ] 1. To take vengeance for; to exact satisfaction for by punishing the injuring party; to vindicate by inflicting pain or evil on a wrongdoer. [ 1913 Webster ]

He will avenge the blood of his servants. Deut. xxxii. 43. [ 1913 Webster ]

Avenge, O Lord, thy slaughtered saints, whose bones
Lie scattered on the Alpine mountains cold. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

He had avenged himself on them by havoc such as England had never before seen. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To treat revengefully; to wreak vengeance on. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Thy judgment in avenging thine enemies. Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To Avenge, Revenge. To avenge is to inflict punishment upon evil doers in behalf of ourselves, or others for whom we act; as, to avenge one's wrongs; to avenge the injuries of the suffering and innocent. It is to inflict pain for the sake of vindication, or retributive justice. To revenge is to inflict pain or injury for the indulgence of resentful and malicious feelings. The former may at times be a duty; the latter is one of the worst exhibitions of human character. [ 1913 Webster ]

I avenge myself upon another, or I avenge another, or I avenge a wrong. I revenge only myself, and that upon another. C. J. Smith. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To take vengeance. Levit. xix. 18. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Vengeance; revenge. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Vengeance. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Vengeful. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The inflicting of retributive punishment; satisfaction taken. [ R. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who avenges or vindicates; as, an avenger of blood. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who takes vengeance. [ Obs. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A female avenger. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. a- + L. vena a vein. ] (Bot.) Being without veins or nerves, as the leaves of certain plants. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Avener. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. avens. [ OF. avence. ] (Bot.) A plant of the genus Geum, of the rose family, esp. Geum urbanum, or herb bennet. They may bear red, yellow, or white flowers. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

n. [ OF. esventail. Cf. Ventail. ] The movable front to a helmet; the ventail. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to Mons Aventinus, one of the seven hills on which Rome stood. Bryant. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A post of security or defense. [ Poetic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Into the castle's tower,
The only Aventine that now is left him. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To thrust forward (at a venture), as a spear. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Adventure, n. ] 1. Accident; chance; adventure. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Old Law) A mischance causing a person's death without felony, as by drowning, or falling into the fire. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. aventurine: cf. It. avventurino. ] 1. A kind of glass, containing gold-colored spangles. It was produced in the first place by the accidental (par aventure) dropping of some brass filings into a pot of melted glass. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Min.) A variety of translucent quartz, spangled throughout with scales of yellow mica. [ 1913 Webster ]

Aventurine feldspar, a variety of oligoclase with internal firelike reflections due to the presence of minute crystals, probably of hematite; sunstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. avenue, fr. avenir to come to, L. advenire. See Advene. ] 1. A way or opening for entrance into a place; a passage by which a place may by reached; a way of approach or of exit. “The avenues leading to the city by land.” Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

On every side were expanding new avenues of inquiry. Milman. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The principal walk or approach to a house which is withdrawn from the road, especially, such approach bordered on each side by trees; any broad passageway thus bordered. [ 1913 Webster ]

An avenue of tall elms and branching chestnuts. W. Black. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A broad street; as, the Fifth Avenue in New York. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of state or being brave. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Leaf tobacco softened, sweetened, and pressed into plugs or cakes. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cut cavendish, the plugs cut into long shreds for smoking. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Cheven. ] (Zool.) The chub. Walton. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. having the surface shaved to smoothness.
Syn. -- smooth-shaven, well-shaven. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. Hollowness; concavity. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Contravened p. pr. & vb. n. Contravening. ] [ LL. contravenire; L. contra + venire to come: cf. F. contrevenir. See Come. ] 1. To meet in the way of opposition; to come into conflict with; to oppose; to contradict; to obstruct the operation of; to defeat. [ 1913 Webster ]

So plain a proposition . . . was not likely to be contravened. Southey. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To violate; to nullify; to be inconsistent with; as, to contravene a law. [ 1913 Webster ]

Laws that place the subjects in such a state contravene the first principles of the compact of authority. Johnson.

Syn. -- To contradict; set aside; nullify; defeat; cross; obstruct; baffle; thwart. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who contravenes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. contravention. ] The act of contravening; opposition; obstruction; transgression; violation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Warrants in contravention of the acts of Parliament. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

In contravention of all his marriage stipulations. Motley. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OE. cravant, cravaunde, OF. cravant&unr_; struck down, p. p. of cravanter, crevanter, to break, crush, strike down, fr. an assumed LL. crepantare, fr. L. crepans, p. pr. of crepare to break, crack, rattle. Cf. Crevice, Crepitate. ] Cowardly; fainthearted; spiritless. “His craven heart.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The poor craven bridegroom said never a word. Sir. W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

In craven fear of the sarcasm of Dorset. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Formerly written also cravant and cravent. ] A recreant; a coward; a weak-hearted, spiritless fellow. See Recreant, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

King Henry. Is it fit this soldier keep his oath?
Fluellen. He is a craven and a villain else. Shak.

Syn. -- Coward; poltroon; dastard. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Cravened p. pr. & vb. n. Cravening. ] To make recreant, weak, spiritless, or cowardly. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

There is a prohibition so divine,
That cravens my weak hand. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From the name of the original maker. Encyc. Dict. ] A kind of small writing table, generally somewhat ornamental, and forming a piece of furniture for the parlor or boudoir. [ 1913 Webster ]

A much battered davenport in one of the windows, at which sat a lady writing. A. B. Edwards. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Disadventure, Adventure. ] Misfortune. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Misadventurous; unfortunate. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. extra- + L. vena vein. ] Let out of the veins. [ Obs. ] “Extravenate blood.” Glanvill. [ 1913 Webster ]

p. p. of Grave, v. t. Carved. [ 1913 Webster ]

Graven image, an idol; an object of worship carved from wood, stone, etc. “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.” Ex. xx. 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being grave. [ 1913 Webster ]

His sables and his weeds,
Importing health and graveness. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ So called because it came from Gravenstein, a place in Schleswig. Downing. ] A kind of fall apple, marked with streaks of deep red and orange, and of excellent flavor and quality. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. hæfene; akin to D. & LG. haven, G. hafen, MHG. habe, Dan. havn, Icel. höfn, Sw. hamn; akin to E. have, and hence orig., a holder; or to heave (see Heave); or akin to AS. hæf sea, Icel. & Sw. haf, Dan. hav, which is perh. akin to E. heave. ] 1. A bay, recess, or inlet of the sea, or the mouth of a river, which affords anchorage and shelter for shipping; a harbor; a port. [ 1913 Webster ]

What shipping and what lading 's in our haven. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Their haven under the hill. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A place of safety; a shelter; an asylum. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The haven, or the rock of love. Waller. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To shelter, as in a haven. Keats. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Harbor dues; port dues. [ 1913 Webster ]

p. a. Sheltered in a haven. [ 1913 Webster ]

Blissful havened both from joy and pain. Keats. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A harbor master. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. heven, hefen, heofen, AS. heofon; akin to OS. hevan, LG. heben, heven, Icel. hifinn; of uncertain origin, cf. D. hemel, G. himmel, Icel. himmin, Goth. himins; perh. akin to, or influenced by, the root of E. heave, or from a root signifying to cover, cf. Goth. gahamōn to put on, clothe one's self, G. hemd shirt, and perh. E. chemise. ] 1. The expanse of space surrounding the earth; esp., that which seems to be over the earth like a great arch or dome; the firmament; the sky; the place where the sun, moon, and stars appear; -- often used in the plural in this sense. [ 1913 Webster ]

I never saw the heavens so dim by day. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

When my eyes shall be turned to behold for the last time the sun in heaven. D. Webster. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The dwelling place of the Deity; the abode of bliss; the place or state of the blessed after death. [ 1913 Webster ]

Unto the God of love, high heaven's King. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is a knell
That summons thee to heaven or to hell. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

New thoughts of God, new hopes of Heaven. Keble. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In this general sense heaven and its corresponding words in other languages have as various definite interpretations as there are phases of religious belief. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The sovereign of heaven; God; also, the assembly of the blessed, collectively; -- used variously in this sense, as in No. 2.; as, heaven helps those who help themselves. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

Her prayers, whom Heaven delights to hear. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The will
And high permission of all-ruling Heaven. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Any place of supreme happiness or great comfort; perfect felicity; bliss; a sublime or exalted condition; as, a heaven of delight. “A heaven of beauty.” Shak. “The brightest heaven of invention.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

O bed! bed! delicious bed!
That heaven upon earth to the weary head! Hood. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Heaven is very often used, esp. with participles, in forming compound words, most of which need no special explanation; as, heaven-appeasing, heaven-aspiring, heaven-begot, heaven-born, heaven-bred, heaven-conducted, heaven-descended, heaven-directed, heaven-exalted, heaven-given, heaven-guided, heaven-inflicted, heaven-inspired, heaven-instructed, heaven-kissing, heaven-loved, heaven-moving, heaven-protected, heaven-taught, heaven-warring, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Heavened p. pr. & vb. n. Heavening. ] To place in happiness or bliss, as if in heaven; to beatify. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

We are happy as the bird whose nest
Is heavened in the hush of purple hills. G. Massey. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To render like heaven or fit for heaven. [ R. ] Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Heavenly. ] The state or quality of being heavenly. Sir J. Davies. [ 1913 Webster ]