wake
Meaning: To stop sleeping or cause someone to stop sleeping; a gathering after a funeral
As a verb, wake means to become conscious after sleeping or to make someone else become conscious. 'Wake up' is the common phrasal verb form. As a noun, a wake is a gathering held after a funeral to commemorate the deceased. 'In the wake of' means following or as a result of something.
Examples
- I usually wake up at seven o'clock. 我通常七点钟起床。Normalmente me despierto a las siete.私は普段7時に起きます。저는 보통 7시에 일어납니다.
- The noise woke the baby. 噪音吵醒了婴儿。El ruido despertó al bebé.物音で赤ちゃんが起きてしまいました。소음 때문에 아기가 깨버렸습니다.
- In the wake of the scandal, several officials resigned. 丑闻发生后,几名官员辞职了。A raíz del escándalo, varios funcionarios dimitieron.そのスキャンダルの後、何人かの役人が辞任しました。그 스캔들 이후 여러 관리들이 사임했습니다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: general
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Old English 'wacan' (to become awake) and 'wacian' (to be awake, keep watch), of Germanic origin, related to Dutch 'waken' and German 'wachen'. The funeral vigil sense comes from keeping watch over the dead.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Story & Trivia
The funeral wake gets its name from the ancient practice of watching over a body through the night before burial, literally 'staying awake'. This tradition continues in Irish and other cultures today.
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