Phrase guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
noun
An aqueous solution of alcohol typically prepared by distilling wine.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: alchemy, pseudoscience
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A concentrated aqueous solution of ethanol.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, countable, uncountable
Topics: chemistry, natural-sciences, organic-chemistry, physical-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Synonym of ardent spirits, particularly cognac and other French brandy.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: water of life, eau de vie, ardent spirits, particularly cognac and other French brandy
Antonyms: none provided
noun
strong distilled liquor or brandy
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: ardent spirits
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: liquor, spirits, booze, hard drink, hard liquor, John Barleycorn, strong drink
History
From Medieval Latin aqua vītae directly and via Middle English aqua vite and French eau-de-vie, from aqua (“water”) and vītae (“of life”). Doublet of aquavit and akvavit. Compare eau de vie, whisky, whiskey, and water of life from the same source.
