strong waters: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare/ArchaicFormal/Literary/Archaic
Quick answer
What does “strong waters” mean?
An archaic term for distilled alcoholic beverages, especially spirits (e.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An archaic term for distilled alcoholic beverages, especially spirits (e.g., brandy, whisky, gin).
Historically, concentrated alcoholic spirits, often used medicinally or as a preservative. Can be used in modern poetic or historical contexts to refer to potent spirits.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally archaic in both varieties. No significant modern dialectal difference.
Connotations
Historical, medicinal, often found in older literature, recipes, or accounts.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary use, except in historical re-enactment, specific literature, or deliberate archaism.
Grammar
How to Use “strong waters” in a Sentence
[Subject] distilled strong waters[Subject] took strong waters for [ailment][Subject] was preserved in strong watersVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in modern business contexts.
Academic
Used in historical, literary, or food/drink history papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
May appear in historical texts on distillation or pharmacology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “strong waters”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “strong waters”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “strong waters”
- Using it as a singular noun ('a strong water').
- Using it to refer to undiluted fruit juice or non-alcoholic drinks.
- Assuming it is contemporary usage.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an archaic term. Using it would likely cause confusion. Use terms like 'spirits', 'liquor', or the specific name (e.g., whisky).
It is a plural noun phrase. You would say 'some strong waters' or 'the strong waters', not 'a strong water'.
'Waters' was a general term for liquids, especially those produced by distillation (like 'rosewater'). 'Strong' distinguished alcoholic spirits from other distilled waters.
Primarily in historical fiction, documents, or re-enactment contexts. It is not part of active, modern English vocabulary.
An archaic term for distilled alcoholic beverages, especially spirits (e.
Strong waters is usually formal/literary/archaic in register.
Strong waters: in British English it is pronounced /ˌstrɒŋ ˈwɔːtəz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌstrɔːŋ ˈwɔːtɚz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specifically for this phrase.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'strong waters' as the 'strong' version of 'mineral waters' – one is for health, the other was historically believed to be.
Conceptual Metaphor
POTENCY IS STRENGTH / LIQUID IS A SUBSTANCE (water as a base substance for various forms).
Practice
Quiz
What does the archaic term 'strong waters' refer to?