viva

interjection

1. Italian, Spanish. (an exclamation of acclaim or approval): Viva Zapata!

noun

2. a shout of “viva.”

noun

1. (in British and European universities) an oral examination; viva voce.

interjection

1. long live; up with (a specified person or thing)

noun

1. an oral examination

verb -vas, -vaing or -vaed (tr)

2. to examine orally

1640s, from Italian viva “(long) live, may he (or she) live,” third person singular present subjunctive of vivere “to live,” from Latin vivere “to live.” Probably reborrowed (1836) from Spanish viva, from vivir “to live,” from Latin vivere (see vital). Sometimes also in Latin form vivat (1660s).