Sake

Sake (sāk) , noun

[Old English sake cause, also, lawsuit, fault, Anglo-Saxon sacu strife, a cause or suit at law; akin to Dutch zaak cause, thing, affair, German sache thing, cause in law, Old High German sahha, Icelandic sok, Swedish sak, Danish sag, Gothic sakjō strife, Anglo-Saxon sacan to contend, strive, Gothic sakam, Icelandic saka to contend, strive, blame, Old High German sahhan, Middle High German sachen, to contend, strive, defend one's right, accuse, charge in a lawsuit, and also to English seek. Compare Seek.]

Final cause; end; purpose of obtaining; cause; motive; reason; interest; concern; account; regard or respect; -- used chiefly in such phrases as, for the sake of, for his sake, for man's sake, for mercy's sake, and the like; as, to commit crime for the sake of gain; to go abroad for the sake of one's health.

Moved with wrath and shame and ladies' sake. — Spenser

I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake. — Gen. viii. 21

Will he draw out, For anger's sake, finite to infinite? — Milton

Knowledge is for the sake of man, and not man for the sake of knowledge. — Sir W. Hamilton

The -s of the possessive case preceding sake is sometimes omitted for euphony; as, for goodness sake. “For conscience sake.” 1 Cor. x. 28. The plural sakes is often used with a possessive plural. “For both our sakes.” Shak.

Sake (sa"ke) , noun

a traditional alcoholic drink of Japan. It is made from rice.