a. Obs. or dial. Forms: 4–5 auaverous(e, 6 avarus, 4–7 avarous. [a. OF. averos, -us, f. aveir, avoir, possession: see AVER sb. Subsequently confused with F. avare, and so spelt.] Avaricious.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 5578. Swyþe coveytous And a nygur and auarous.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pers. T., ¶ 673. The avarous man hath more hope in his catel than in Jhesu Crist.
1388. Wyclif, 1 Cor. vi. 10. Nether theues, nether auerouse men.
c. 1450. Merlin, vi. 106. He ȝaf to hem that were auerouse, golde and siluer.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, III. i. 83. Flee from this auarus kingis cost.
1658. Lennard, trans. Charron’s Wisd., I. xxxix. § 6 (1670), 132. So avarous is he of misery.
