avus
μή, φίλα ψυχά, βίον ἀθάνατον σπεῦδε, τὰν δ' ἔμπρακτον ἄντλει μαχανάν → Oh! my soul do not aspire to eternal life, but exhaust the limits of the possible. | Do not yearn, O my soul, for immortal life! Use to the utmost the skill that is yours. | Do not, my soul, strive for the life of the immortals, but exhaust the practical means at your disposal.
Latin > English (Lewis & Short)
ăvus: (AVS, Inscr. Fabr. 389, also ăvŏs), i, m. kindr. with Goth. avo, grandmother; old Norse, afi, grandfather; cf. Heb. , āb, father; Chald. , ἀββᾶ>; and Engl. abbot,
I a grandfather, grandsire.
I Lit.: pater, avus, proavus, abavus, atavus, tritavus, Plaut. Pers. 1, 2, 5; so Ter. Phorm. 2, 3, 48; Cic. Cael. 14, 33; id. Mur. 7; Hor. S. 1, 6, 131; Vulg. Exod. 10, 6; cf. Dig. 38, 10, 1; 38, 10, 10; Isid. Orig. 9, 5, 9; 9, 6, 23.—Also transf. to animals (cf. 1. avitus, II.), Verg. G. 4, 209.—
II In gen.
A Ancestor, forefather, Hor. S. 1, 6, 3; Ov. F. 2, 30; id. H. 16 (15), 174; id. M. 9, 491; 15, 425; id. P. 4, 8, 18; Vulg. Gen. 28, 4 al.—
B An old man, Albin. 2, 4.
