spiritous

[spir-i-tuhs]

adjective

Archaic.

1. of the nature of spirit; immaterial, ethereal, or refined.

spiritous

/ ˈspɪrɪtəs /

adjective

1. a variant spelling of spirituous

2. archaic,  high-spirited

3. archaic,  ethereal; pure

Other Word Forms

• nonspiritous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of spiritous¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; spirit + -ous

Example Sentences

The berries are scantily produced, nor are the people of the country at all acquainted with the method of making a spiritous liquor from them, as in other places.

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The manner in which wine, cyder, mead, and all the liquors formed by the spiritous fermentation, are produced, is well known to every one.

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"I allow no spiritous liquors in my home," said Reverend Hale.

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Dad has drank a good deal of spiritous and malt liquors in his time, but I don't think he ever indulged much in champagne at three or four dollars a bottle at home.

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It was not long however before they became clamorous for spiritous liquors; and the evening presented such a bacchanalia, including the women and the children, as I never before witnessed.

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