I.of or belonging to a grandfather, coming from a grandfather, ancestral.
I. Lit.: “paternae atque avitae possessiones,” Cic. Agr. 2, 30, 81: “bona paterna et avita,” id. Cael. 14, 34: “res patrita et avita,” Cic. Verr. 1, 5, 13: “patrita illa et avita philosophia,” id. Tusc. 1, 19, 45: avitus ac patritus mos, Varr. ap. Non. p. 161, 5: “leges avitae et patritae,” id. ib.: “hospitium,” Cic. Fam. 13, 34: “divitiae,” Cat. 68, 121; so, “res,” Hor. S. 1, 6, 79: “quae (pallium, sudarium etc.) palam soles habere tamquam avita,” Cat. 25, 8: “solium,” Verg. A. 7, 169; Ov. M. 6, 650: “fundus,” Hor. C. 1, 12, 43: “cellae,” id. ib. 1, 37, 6: “regnum,” Cic. Imp. Pomp. 8, 12; Liv. 1, 15: “sanguis, Prep. 3, 19, 37: nomen,” Ov. M. 6, 239: “umbrae,” id. F.1, 43: “nobilitas,” Tac. A. 2, 38: “spes,” Plin. 9, 35, 58, § 117 et saep.—
II. Transf. to animals: “asinus fortitudinem celeritatemque avitam refert,” Col. 6, 37, 4: “color,” id. 6, 37, 4, § 7.—In gen., very old or ancient: “merum,” Ov. A. A. 2, 695.—Comp. and sup. not found; cf. Neue, Formenl. II. p. 230.—* Adv.: ăvītë ;, from ancient times, Tert. adv. Val. 39 dub.
