aqua vitae

noun

aqua vi·​tae ˌa-kwə-ˈvī-tē How to pronounce aqua vitae (audio)
ˌä-
: a strong alcoholic liquor (such as brandy)

Examples of aqua vitae in a Sentence

aqua vitae has been part of human culture since ancient times

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Medieval Latin, literally, water of life

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of aqua vitae was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near aqua vitae

Cite this Entry

“Aqua vitae.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aqua%20vitae. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

aqua vitae

noun
: a strong alcoholic liquor

More from Merriam-Webster on aqua vitae

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!