Etymology
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aqua vitae (n.)

also aqua-vitae, early 15c., Latin, literally "water of life," an alchemical term for unrefined alcohol. Applied to brandy, whiskey, etc. from 1540s. See aqua- + vital. Compare whiskey, also French eau-de-vie "spirits, brandy," literally "water of life."

Entries linking to aqua vitae

aqua- 
word-forming element meaning "water," from Latin aqua "water; the sea; rain," cognate with Proto-Germanic *akhwo (source of Old English ea "river," Gothic ahua "river, waters," Old Norse Ægir, name of the sea-god, Old English ieg "island"), from PIE root *akwa- "water."
vital (adj.)
late 14c., "of or manifesting life," from Latin vitalis "of or belonging to life," from vita "life," related to vivere "to live," from PIE root *gwei- "to live." The sense of "necessary or important" is from 1610s, via the notion of "essential to life" (late 15c.). Vital capacity recorded from 1852. Related: Vitally.
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Definitions of aqua vitae

aqua vitae (n.)
strong distilled liquor or brandy;
Synonyms: ardent spirits
From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near aqua vitae

aptly

aptness

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aqua

aqua fortis

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aquacade

aquaculture

aqualung

aquamarine

aquanaut

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