Lewis & Short

1. ăvītus, a, um, adj. [avus], of or belonging to a grandfather, coming from a grandfather, ancestral.

  1. I. Lit.: paternae atque avitae possessiones, Cic. Agr. 2, 30, 81: bona paterna et avita, id. Cael. 14, 34: res patrita et avita, id. 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.
  2. 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.