qui vive, n.
[‘ on (also upon) the qui vive: on the alert; on the lookout.']
Pronunciation: Brit. /ˌkiː ˈviːv/, U.S. /ˌki ˈviv/
Forms: 17– *qui vive*, 19– *key veev* /Irish English/.
Etymology: < French /qui vive/, qui-vive, noun (1626) < /qui vive?/, lit. ‘who should live?', i.e. ‘(long) live who?’ (1470 in Middle French) a sentinel’s challenge, intended to discover to which party the person challenged belongs (with an expected answer of the form vive le roi (long) live the king, vive la France (long) live France, etc.) < /qui/ who (see who pron.) + vive, 3rd singular present subjunctive of vivre (see vivers n.). Compare post-classical Latin /qui vivat?/ (1419 in a French source, or earlier).
With on the qui vive compare French /sur le qui vive/ (1690).
N.E.D. (1902) gives the non-naturalized pronunciation (k/ī/ v/ī/v) ki viv.
*1.* on (also upon) the qui vive: on the alert; on the lookout.
1726 Swift /Let./ 15 Oct. (2003) III. 35 Is it imagined that I must be..Alway upon the qui vive and the Slip Slop.
1752 H. Fielding /Amelia/ II. v. vii. 141 Though he be a little too much on the Qui vive, he is a Man of great Honour.
1834 F. Marryat /Peter Simple/ III. xiv. 181 This put us all on the qui vive.
1883 E. P. Roe in /Harper’s Mag./ Dec. 56/1 ‘What now, Webb?’ cried Burtis, all on the qui vive.
1933 B. Gadelius /Human Mentality/ vii. 163 His senses are always on the qui-vive.
1980 V. S. Pritchett /Tale Bearers/ 85 Greene is always on the qui vive for the ironies of impotence and desire.
2002 A. Caulfield /Show me Magic/ xiv. 287, I love big dangerous cities, always having to be on the qui vive.
*2.* Chiefly in France or in French-speaking contexts: a cry of ‘qui vive’, typically used as a challenge by a sentry. Cf. go v.. Now rare.
1740 tr. G. Alderfeld /Mil. Hist. Charles XII./ III. 158 Upon which having demanded the quivive with his pistol in his hand, and receiving no answer, [he] returned..to look for his Majesty.
1820 A. J. Kempre tr. E. O. I. Odeleben /Campaign in Saxony/ II. v. 322 The wonted stillness of night was now only interrupted by..the qui vive? of the sentinels.
1903 B. Carman /Poems/ II. 110 From behind the tall door that swings outward, replies no patrol To our restless Qui vive?