spirits of wine: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
ArchaicHistorical/Technical
Quick answer
What does “spirits of wine” mean?
Ethanol or pure alcohol obtained by distilling wine.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Ethanol or pure alcohol obtained by distilling wine.
Historically, any distilled alcoholic spirit; now an archaic term for ethanol, often used in chemical or historical contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences; term is archaic in both varieties.
Connotations
Historical or scientific; may evoke alchemy, early chemistry, or traditional distillation methods.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary use; occasionally found in old texts, specialized historical discussions, or chemical references.
Grammar
How to Use “spirits of wine” in a Sentence
used as a solvent in [noun phrase]distilled from [noun phrase] to produce spirits of wineVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in modern business; historical references might appear in wine or chemical industry archives.
Academic
Found in chemistry or history textbooks discussing early alcohol production or alchemical practices.
Everyday
Rarely used; most speakers would say 'alcohol' or 'ethanol' instead.
Technical
Employed in chemical contexts to specify ethanol derived from wine distillation, e.g., in solvent applications.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “spirits of wine”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “spirits of wine”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “spirits of wine”
- Using 'spirits of wine' to refer to any alcoholic drink; it specifically means distilled ethanol from wine.
- Confusing it with 'spirits' in the sense of ghosts or emotional states.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an archaic term mostly found in historical or technical contexts, such as chemistry or history books.
It refers to ethanol obtained specifically by distilling wine, not other sources of alcohol.
Not accurately; 'alcohol' is a broader term, while 'spirits of wine' specifies ethanol derived from wine distillation.
The word 'spirits' historically refers to distilled liquids, and 'of wine' indicates the source, meaning the distilled essence from wine.
Ethanol or pure alcohol obtained by distilling wine.
Spirits of wine is usually historical/technical in register.
Spirits of wine: in British English it is pronounced /ˈspɪrɪts əv waɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈspɪrɪts əv waɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'spirits' as the essence, and 'of wine' as the source, so it's the pure essence extracted from wine.
Conceptual Metaphor
Represents purity and refinement, akin to 'the spirit of something' meaning its true, unadulterated nature.
Practice
Quiz
What is 'spirits of wine' best described as in modern terms?