Definition of qui vive

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qui vive    (k vv) KEY 

NOUN:

A sentinel's challenge.

IDIOM:
on the qui vive

On the alert; vigilant: "a loathsome Dublin politico who is on the qui vive for . . . terrorists" (Julian Moynahan).

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ETYMOLOGY:
French, (long) live who? (a sentry's challenge to determine a person's political sympathies) : qui, who + vive, third person sing. present subjunctive of vivre, to live