View synonyms for eau de vie

eau de vie

[ ohduh-vee; English oh duh vee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, French.

eau de vie

/ əʊ də viː; od vi /

Literally, water of life; aqua vitae

French, literally: water of life

It refers to what Americans call eau-de-vie, though Austrians have been tinkering with and perfecting the drink for centuries.

Not ze whisky from ze rotten grain; but ze eau-de-vie wiz ze fire of ze sun and ze sweet of ze vine!

Besides, among seamen, Eau always means brandy; and Eau-de-vie, brandy of a high proof.

I stood by her supporting her head on my breast, while Justine ran for camphor and eau-de-vie.

She seems to have taken to drink, for her thefts are mostly of wine and eau de vie.

So I gave him a little more eau-de-vie, and he took it most submissively.

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