sake

¹

[seyk]

noun

1. cause, account, interest, or benefit.

   for the sake of all students.

   Synonyms: respect, consideration, regard

2. purpose or end.

   for the sake of appearances.

   Synonyms: reason

sake

²

Or sa·ké,

[sah-kee]

noun

1. a Japanese fermented, mildly alcoholic beverage made from rice.

sake

¹

/ seɪk /

noun

1. benefit or interest (esp in the phrase for ( someone's or one's own ) sake )

2. the purpose of obtaining or achieving (esp in the phrase for the sake of ( something ))

3. used in various exclamations of impatience, urgency, etc

   for heaven's sake

   for pete's sake

sake

²

/ ˈsækɪ /

noun

1. a Japanese alcoholic drink made from fermented rice

Word History and Origins

Origin of sake¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English sacu “lawsuit, cause”; cognate with German Sache “thing,” Old Norse sǫk “lawsuit”; akin to seek

Origin of sake²

First recorded in 1680–90; from Japanese sake; compare Okinawan saki

Word History and Origins

Origin of sake¹

C13 (in the phrase for the sake of, probably from legal usage): from Old English sacu lawsuit (hence, a cause); related to Old Norse sok, German Sache matter

Origin of sake²

C17: from Japanese

Idioms and Phrases

see for the sake of.

Example Sentences

We need a healthcare system that delivers them reliably, for all our sakes.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

We presented a front of stability for their sake.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

For all of your sakes, hire an attorney and get the ball rolling.

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For the sake of household wealth, it is the path that needs to be taken.

Read more on Barron's

Playing cohesively, Sullivan said, means sacrificing personal glory for the sake of the team.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• well-being