sake Hear it!

sake¹ Definition

sake (sāk)

noun

  1. purpose or reason; motive; cause for the sake of harmony
  2. advantage; behalf; benefit for my sake

Etymology: ME < OE sacu, cause or suit at law, contention, akin to Ger sache, thing, affair < IE base *sāg-, to investigate > seek, L sagire, to perceive, find, sagax, sharply discerning

sake¹ Idioms

for heaven's sake!

or for gosh sake! or for Pete's sake!

a mild exclamation of surprise, annoyance, etc.

sake² Definition

sake ()

noun

a Japanese alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice and usually warmed for serving

Etymology: Jpn, ult. < ? sakayu, to prosper

sake Synonyms

sake

n.

  1. Purpose

    reason, cause, score, motive, principle; see also purpose 1, reason 3.

  2. Welfare

    benefit, behalf, advantage, interest, well-being; see also advantage 3, welfare 1.

sake Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • brevity: The faults observed in these entries may for the sake of brevity be reduced to the following heads.
  • completeness: For the sake of completeness, we list them here.
  • simplicity: For the sake of simplicity, let's say half the world's population are male.
  • clarity: For the sake of clarity I give the following summary of the events in the case.
  • convenience: For the sake of convenience, firms may wish to set a general limit of £ 9,400 for the calendar year 2003.
  • argument: For the sake of argument, let me ask you where was Allah prior to creation?

Possessives

  • goodness: Madonna's Hung Up, which was out in October for goodness ' sake, is STILL in the charts at number 15.
  • heaven: He was only about 19 years old for heaven's sake.
  • pity: For pity's sake, I'm a cat.
  • righteousness: Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness ' sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  • christ: Keep warm and keep shagging, for christ's sake!

Adjective modifier

  • own: You may wish to study these areas for their own sake, out of academic interest, or to advance an academic career.
  • old: Would you ever consider doing a one off chart show or drive time show on radio 1 for old times sake?

Noun used with modifier

  • goodness: For goodness sake haven't they seen the film?
  • god: For the album to ' Avoid ' they put High Anxiety for gods sake!
  • righteousness: You share that kind of suffering, suffering for righteousness sake.
  • conscience: Wherefore [ ye ] must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
  • heaven: For heavens sake, we cant wait that long!
sake Quotes

   If thou must love me, let it be for naught Except for love's sake only.

—Browning, Elizabeth ne¤  e Barrett

'Before she came,'said a soldier,'there was cussin'and swearin', but after that it was 'oly as a church.' The most cherished privilege of the fighting man was abandoned for the sake of Miss Nightingale.

—Strachey, (Giles) Lytton

Browse dictionary entries near sake

  1. Sakai
  2. saith
  3. Saipan
  4. Saintsbury
  5. saintly
  6. sainthood
  7. sainted
  8. Sainte-Foy
  9. Sainte-Beuve
  10. Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré
  1. Sakhalin
  2. Sakharov
  3. Saki
  4. Sakkara
  5. sal
  6. sal ammoniac
  7. Salé
  8. sal soda
  9. sal volatile
  10. salaam