sake¹ / sāk/ • n. 1. (for the sake of something or for something's sake) for the purpose of; in the interest of; in order to achieve or preserve: the couple moved to the coast for the sake of her health. ∎  used in phrases to comment on the speaker's purpose in choosing a particular way of wording a text or presenting an argument: let us say, for the sake of argument, that the plotter and the assassin are one and the same person. ∎  (for its own sake or something for something's sake or for the sake of it) used to indicate something that is done as an end in itself rather than to achieve some other purpose: new ideas amount to change for change's sake.2. (for the sake of someone or for someone's sake) out of consideration for or in order to help someone: I felt I couldn't give up, for my own sake or the baby's. ∎  in order to please: he'd even kill a man for my sake.3. (for God's or goodness, etc., sake) used to express impatience, annoyance, urgency, or desperation: “Oh, for God's sake!” snarled Dyson.

sake1 †strife, contention (in OE. also, legal suit); †guilt OE.; †charge, ground of accusation XII; surviving in phr. for the sake of XIII (prob. modelled on ON.). OE. sacu = OS. saka (Du. zaak), OHG. sahha (G. sache), ON. sǫk :- Gmc. *sakō, f. *sak-, repr. also by OE. sacan quarrel, claim at law, accuse, OS. sakan accuse, OHG. sahhan strive, quarrel, rebuke, OE. sæċ, Goth. sakjō strife; rel. to SEEK.

saké Japanese wine made from rice. Cooked whole rice grains are fermented with a fungus culture for 10–14 days and stored in wooden barrels. Contains about 17% alcohol, by volume. Normally drunk warm and traditionally served in conical ceramic cups.

sake2 fermented liquor made from rice. XVII (saque). — Jap.