Keepsake
/ˈkiːp.seɪk/noun
An object kept as a reminder of a person, place, or event.
Did you know?The word sake originally referred to a legal cause or dispute, giving keepsake the hidden sense of something preserved “for a reason” or “for a matter.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*seh₂g-
“To investigate, track down, or pursue; a proposed ancestor of the Germanic legal and searching vocabulary.”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*sakō
“A matter, cause, charge, or legal dispute.”
Old English
OE
sacu
“A lawsuit, accusation, guilt, or dispute.”
Middle English
ME
sake
“A cause, reason, matter, or purpose.”
18th Century
English
keepsake
“A thing kept for remembrance or sentimental reasons.”
Modern English
English
keepsake
“A memento retained as a reminder of someone or something.”