Liquor
/ˈlɪk.ər/noun
A distilled alcoholic beverage.
Did you know?The Latin root 'liquere' means 'to be fluid'—liquor was once believed to hold transformative powers in alchemy and rituals.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
liquorem
“a fluid or liquid, often with mystical properties.”
Late Latin
Late Latin
liquor
“a liquid, especially one that is distilled or fermented.”
Old French
Old French
licor
“a beverage, particularly one that is alcoholic.”
Middle English
Middle English
licour
“a drink, especially an alcoholic one.”
Modern English
English
liquor
“any distilled alcoholic drink, often for social or ceremonial use.”