qui vive? Hear it!

qui vive? definition

qui vive? (kē vēv′)

who goes there?: a sentry's challenge

Etymology: Fr, (long) live who? (i.e., which monarch or ruler do you support?, whose side are you on?), 3d pers. sing., pres. subj., of vivre, to live (< L vivere) + qui, who (< L)

qui vive? Idioms

on the qui vive

on the lookout; on the alert

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.