Etymology

aqua vitae

Today it means: An aqueous solution of alcohol typically prepared by distilling wine. Full definition →

Medieval Latin aqua vītae ← Middle English aqua vite ← French eau-de-vie
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The story

  1. French · derived fromeau-de-vie
  2. Middle English · inherited fromaqua vite
  3. Medieval Latin · borrowed fromaqua vītae
  4. English todayaqua vitae

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.

Words from the same roots

Medieval Latinaqua vītae all →

whiskeyaquaviteau de viewater of life

Frencheau-de-vie all →

eau de vie

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.