From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:
sake
n 1: a reason for wanting something done; "for your sake"; "died
for the sake of his country"; "in the interest of
safety"; "in the common interest" [syn: interest]
2: Japanese alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice;
usually served hot [syn: saki, rice beer]
3: the purpose of achieving or obtaining; "for the sake of
argument"
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Sake \Sa"ke\ (s[aum]"k[-e]), n.
a traditional alcoholic drink of Japan. It is made from rice.
[Also spelled saki.]
[1913 Webster +PJC]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Sake \Sake\ (s[=a]k), n. [OE. sake cause, also, lawsuit, fault,
AS. sacu strife, a cause or suit at law; akin to D. zaak
cause, thing, affair, G. sache thing, cause in law, OHG.
sahha, Icel. s["o]k, Sw. sak, Dan. sag, Goth. sakj[=o]
strife, AS. sacan to contend, strive, Goth. sakam, Icel. saka
to contend, strive, blame, OHG. sahhan, MHG. sachen, to
contend, strive, defend one's right, accuse, charge in a
lawsuit, and also to E. seek. Cf. 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.
[1913 Webster]
Moved with wrath and shame and ladies' sake. --Spenser.
[1913 Webster]
I will not again curse the ground any more for man's
sake. --Gen. viii.
21.
[1913 Webster]
Will he draw out,
For anger's sake, finite to infinite? --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
Knowledge is for the sake of man, and not man for the
sake of knowledge. --Sir W.
Hamilton.
[1913 Webster]
Note: 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.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Saki \Sa"ki\ (s[aum]"k[-e]), n.
The alcoholic drink of Japan. It is made from rice; it is
usually spelled sake.
[1913 Webster +PJC] Sakieh