Liqueurs

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A sweetened alcoholic beverage typically flavored with fruits, herbs, or spices and often enjoyed as an after-dinner drink
2. A type of distilled drink known for its sweetness and distinctive flavors, commonly used in cocktails or served straight
3. An aromatic spirit that is usually lower in alcohol content than regular spirits, served neat or included in various drink recipes

Etymology: "Liqueurs" is simply the plural of "liqueur," so its story is really the story of the singular. English borrowed the word unadapted from French, which kept it nearly identical to its Latin ancestor "liquor," meaning liquid. The two words are doublets: both descend from the same Latin source, but English took one of them through French and the other more directly, so they split into distinct forms with distinct uses. "Liquor" stayed close to its original sense of any liquid, and the French-derived form came to name a sweetened, flavoured spirit.

Synonyms: cordials, spirits, alcohols