Sake
/ˈsɑː.keɪ/noun
A Japanese alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice.
Did you know?In Shinto rituals, sake is often used as an offering to the gods, embodying a sacred bond between humans and the divine.
Etymological Timeline
Old Japanese
Old Japanese
sake
“refers broadly to 'alcohol' or 'liquor', originally tied to rice fermentation.”
12th Century
Middle Japanese
sake
“specific reference to rice wine, emphasizing its cultural significance.”
16th Century
Early Modern Japanese
sake
“solidified as the term for rice wine, associated with rituals and celebrations.”
Modern English
English
sake
“adopted into English, retaining the concept of a rice-based alcoholic drink.”