water of life
1
7.9
- noun
- Archaic
:
agua de la vida
- For centuries, whiskey has been referred to as the water of life in various traditions.
And it says three nights and then the God Inky sprinkles the water of life on her and she resurrects and brings the the dead up with her.
- And it says three nights and then the God Inky sprinkles the water of life on her and she resurrects and brings the the dead up with her.
- Yeah, the water of life, Steve.
Examples
-
The cry of the disappointed and tired world is "Give us the true bread and water of life; we are starving upon husks and fleshless bones."
Academic text (2004) -
And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Blog text (22) -
I have been shown the river that is the water of life!
-
To him who is thirsty, I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.
Blog text (26) -
The One will wipe away every tear from my eyes and guide me to the water of life.
Fiction book (2002) -
Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
Blog text (32) -
Do you know what the “water of life” is, son?
-
I think that is part of what the Bible means when it says, "Let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price."
Blog text (28) -
The Gaelic word for whiskey, Usquebaugh, literally means "water of life."
Academic text (1990) -
"Or this," the Spirit and the Bride say, "Come, and let him that is athirst come, and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely."
Blog text (27)
Synonyms
∞
1.0
A clear liquid you drink to stay alive
14
4.9
The main thing that keeps something working or alive
2
4.4
A thing like the sun or water that gives life to living things
How Essential
28
3.0
- Archaic
1
7.9
274
2.0
947
1.0
116
1.4
322
4.2
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase literally composes as 'water that pertains to life' so a B1 learner who knows 'water' and 'life' can infer it means something essential for survival or a vital drink. The historical/dialectal use for distilled spirits (aqua/eau de vie) is a cultural extension but is motivated by the same transparent composition, so the expression remains predictable from its parts.
Etymology
Water of life comes from the simple image of clean water that keeps people life alive, so people called anything they saw as very important to life 'water of life'. It was also used for strong drinks like whiskey that people once thought could help or heal, so today it can mean 'something essential' or the name of certain spirits.