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Definition of "spirituous" [spir•it•u•ous]

  • Having the nature of or containing alcohol; alcoholic. (adjective)
  • Distilled. Used of an alcoholic beverage. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "spirituous" in a sentence
  • "But since the introduction among us of what you call spirituous liquors, and what we think may justly be called poison, our numbers are greatly diminished."
  • "On leave, many of your men gravitate towards the Piccadilly neighbourhood, where, despite the black-out, rationing and high prices, a certain spirituous gaiety is still achieved, but this is more likely to lower the bank account than to raise the view of the earnestness of our war-effort."
  • ""Brothers and friends -- When your forefathers first met on this island, your red brethren were very numerous; but, since the introduction amongst us of what you call spirituous liquors, and what we think may justly be called poison, our numbers are greatly diminished."