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Synonyms

aqua vitae

American  
[vahy-tee, vee-tee] / ˈvaɪ ti, ˈvi ti /

noun

  1. alcohol.

  2. spirituous liquor, as brandy or whiskey.


aqua vitae British  
/ ˈviːtaɪ, ˈvaɪtiː /

noun

  1. an archaic name for brandy

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of aqua vitae

1375–1425; late Middle English aqua vite < Latin: water of life; aquavit, whiskey

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

As I understand by report I am much charged with starving the colony, I did always give every man his allowance faithfully, both of corn, oil, aqua vitae, etc., as was by the council proportioned.

From "Blood on the River" by Elisa Carbone

"I would give all the pohickory that was ever brewed by heathen for a toss of aqua vitae!"

From To Have and to Hold by Johnston, Mary

The first is, that it is an essential point to quench the coal of cork in aqua vitae, that the visible ink may become black with it.

From Forty Centuries of Ink or, a chronological narrative concerning ink and its backgrounds, introducing incidental observations and deductions, parallels of time and color phenomena, bibliography, chemistry, poetical effusions, citations, anecdotes and curiosa together with some evidence respecting the evanescent character of most inks of to-day and an epitome of chemico-legal ink. by Carvalho, David Nunes

To finish things properly there is still wanting the famous aqua vitae, which we are sorry to state is not in our means to furnish.

From The New North by Cameron, Agnes Deans

The fat landlord, in trying to beat out the flames, had increased them by upsetting two bottles of aqua vitae, and was dancing about with three fingers in his mouth.

From The Splendid Spur by Quiller-Couch, Arthur Thomas, Sir