Eau
name, noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 Alternative form of ea. alt-of, alternative
- 2 Water. uncountable
- 1 Initialism of Eurasian Economic Union. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
- 2 Any of several rivers in Lincolnshire.
Example
More examples"I prefer your eau de vie to your conversation."
Etymology
From Middle English ea, eo, from Old English ēa (“running water, water, stream, river”), from Proto-Germanic *ahwō (“waters, river”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ekʷeh₂ (“water, flowing water”). Compare English aqua. Compare ea, yeo. Related to, and spelling influenced by, but not derived from French eau (“water”).
From French eau, from Middle French eau, eaue, from Old French ewe, euwe, egua (“water”), from Latin aqua (“water”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ekʷeh₂ (“water, flowing water”). Doublet of aqua.
From Old English ēa (“running water, water, stream, river”), from Proto-Germanic *ahwō (“waters, river”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ekʷeh₂ (“water, flowing water”). Cognate with North Frisian ia (“river”), Saterland Frisian Äi (“river”), West Frisian ie (“water, stream”), Dutch aa (“water, stream”), German Ache (“water, stream, river, flood”), Swedish å (“stream, creek”), Icelandic á (“stream, river”), Latin aqua (“water”). Doublet of aqua and yeo. Related to, but not derived from, French eau ("water").