angel Gabriel's salutation of the Virgin Mary, when he brought her the tidings of the incarnation.—It is become a prayer or form of devotion in the Romish church. Their chaplets and rosaries are divided into so many ave-marias, and so many pater-nosters, to which the Papists ascribe a wonderful efficacy.

Avena, oats; a genus of the digynia order, belonging to the triandra class of plants. Of this genus Linnæus enumerates 16 species, of which none deserve notice, except that which is commonly known and cultivated for grain; for a particular account of the culture of which, see Agriculture, no. 116, 117.—Oats are an article of the Materia Medica. Gruels made from them have a kind of soft mucilaginous quality; by which they obtund acrimonious humours, and prove useful in inflammatory diseases, coughs, hoarseness, and ulcerations of the fauces.

Avenaceous, something belonging to or partaking of the nature of oats.