Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary

I.that is out of the way, remote, out of the right way; also, untrodden, unfrequented, solitary, lonely, etc. (while devius signifies leading from the right way; and invius, having no way, pathless; in the poets and histt. freq.).

I. Lit.

A. Silvani lucus extra murum est avius, Plaut. Aul. 4, 6, 8: “Avia Pieridum peragro loca, nullius ante Trita solo,” Lucr. 1, 926: “nemora avia,” id. 2, 145: “virgulta,” Verg. G. 2, 328: “montes,” Hor. C. 1, 23, 2: “aviis itineribus,” through by-ways, Sall. J. 54, 9: “cujus (Caesaris) sibi species itinere avio occurrisset,” Suet. Aug. 96: “solitudines,” Vell. 2, 55: “avia commeatibus loca,” Liv. 9, 19, 16.—Also,

B. Subst.: āvĭum , ii, n., a by-way, a desert, wilderness; in a pun with avium, from avis: hunc avium dulcedo ducit ad avium, Auct. ad Her. 4, 21, 29.—More freq. in plur.: āvĭa , ōrum: “avia cursu Dum sequor, et notā excedo regione viarum,” Verg. A. 2, 737: “per avia ac derupta,” Tac. A. 6, 21: per avia, Ov M. 1, 701; 2, 205.—So with gen.: avia vinerum, Vell. 2, 75: “nemorum,” Ov. M. 1, 179: “saltuum,” Tac. A. 2. 68: “Oceani,” id. ib. 2, 15: “Armeniae,” id. ib. 13, 37.—

C. Poet., of persons, wandering, straying: “Continuo in montes sese avius abdidit altos,” Verg. A. 11, 810.—

II. Trop.: “Avius a verā longe ratione vagaris,” astray, Lucr. 2, 82; 2, 229; 2, 740; “3, 463: init nunc avia coepto Consilia,” i. e. leading away from the undertaking, Sil. 12, 493.