adverb the prep. ava in adv. use, down, downward; in C. often expl^d. by adho. Rarely absolute, the only passage found so far being Snp.685 (avaṃ sari he went down, variant reading avasari, expl^d. by otari Snp-a.486). Opp. uddhaṃ (above, up high). Freq. in cpd avaṃsira (adj.) head downward (+ uddhaṃpāda feet up) a position characteristic of beings in Niraya (Purgatory) e.g. SN.i.48; Snp.248 (patanti sattā nirayaṃ avaṃsirā adhogata-sīsā Snp-a.290); Vv.52#25 (of Revatī, + uddhaṃpāda); Pv.iv.1#46; Ja.i.233 (+ uddhapāda); Ja.iv.103 (nirayaṃ vajanti yathā adhammo patito avaṃsiro); Mnd.404 (uddhaṃpāda +); Dhp-a.iv.153 (gloss adhosira)
■ On avaṃ˚ cp further avakkāra, avākaroti, avekkhipati.

Vedic avāk & avāṃ