eau de vie

UK/ˌəʊ.dəˈviː/US/ˌoʊ.dəˈviː/

noun

Synonym of brandy.

Similar
brandyaqua vitaesimilar distilled spirits
OriginFrench eau-de-vie ← Medieval Latin aqua vītae →
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Meanings

nouneau de vie (countable and uncountable, plural eau de vies or eaus de vie or eaux de vie)

plural eau de vies · plural eaus de vie · plural eaux de vie · alternative eau-de-vie

  1. countableuncountableSynonym of brandy.

    Synonyms: brandy

  2. countableuncountableSynonym of aqua vitae, similar distilled spirits, especially French ones.

    Synonyms: aqua vitae, similar distilled spirits

Synonyms & antonyms

nounSynonym of brandy.

Similar
brandy

nounSynonym of aqua vitae, similar distilled spirits, especially French ones.

Similar
aqua vitaesimilar distilled spirits
Also see
aqua vitaeardent spiritsbrandy

Origin

  1. Medieval Latinaqua vītae
  2. Frencheau-de-vie“water of life”
  3. Englisheau de vie

From French eau-de-vie (“water of life”), calque of Medieval Latin aqua vītae. Compare akvavit, aquavit, aqua vitae, whisky, whiskey, and water of life from the same source.

More words from French, Medieval Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

eau de vie. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/eau%20de%20vie

MLA

“eau de vie.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/eau%20de%20vie. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “eau de vie,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/eau%20de%20vie.

Source: eau de vie on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.