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wake1

  • verb (past woke or US, dialect, or archaic waked; past part. woken or US, dialect, or archaic waked) 1 (often wake up) emerge or cause to emerge from sleep. 2 cause to stir or come to life. 3 (wake up to) become alert to or aware of.

  • noun 1 a watch or vigil held beside the body of someone who has died. 2 (especially in Ireland) a party held after a funeral. 3 (wakes) treated as sing. an annual festival and holiday in some parts of northern England.

  — ORIGIN Old English, related to WATCH; sense 3 of the noun is probably from Old Norse.

 

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