v. Obs. [a. AF. avente-r (= OF. esventer, mod.F. éventer):—Romanic *exventare, f. L. ex out + ventus wind.]
1. trans. To air, to refresh with cool air, esp. by opening the front of the helmet so as to admit it; hence, to open (the helmet) for this purpose.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, VI. 305. That of his basnet than had tane To awent hym [v.r. tak the air] for he wes hate.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, XV. 7090. He voidet his viser, auentid hym seluyn.
c. 1440. Bone Flor., 1941. As he schulde hys helme avente, A quarell smote hym.
c. 1450. Merlin, xx. 335. Thei were well refresshed and a-vented.
2. refl. and intr. To come out or escape into the open air; fig. to escape from confinement. Hence Aventing vbl. sb.
c. 1375. Wyclif, Serm. (Sel. Wks. 1869), I. 219. Whanne þei ben aventid … Goddis lawe lymyteþ how þes wyndis shulen passe awei. Ibid. (c. 1380), De Pseudo-Freres, Wks. (1880), 319. It were good to many men þat ben closid in þise ordris þat þei disporteden hem in þe world . for siche auentyng many times fordoiþ enuye, ire & lust.
