Cause
[kɔːz] or [kɔz]
Definition
(noun.) a justification for something existing or happening; 'he had no cause to complain'; 'they had good reason to rejoice'.
(noun.) events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something; 'they are trying to determine the cause of the crash'.
(verb.) give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally; 'cause a commotion'; 'make a stir'; 'cause an accident'.
Checked by Andrew--From WordNet
Definition
(v.) That which produces or effects a result; that from which anything proceeds, and without which it would not exist.
(v.) That which is the occasion of an action or state; ground; reason; motive; as, cause for rejoicing.
(v.) Sake; interest; advantage.
(v.) A suit or action in court; any legal process by which a party endeavors to obtain his claim, or what he regards as his right; case; ground of action.
(v.) Any subject of discussion or debate; matter; question; affair in general.
(v.) The side of a question, which is espoused, advocated, and upheld by a person or party; a principle which is advocated; that which a person or party seeks to attain.
(n.) To effect as an agent; to produce; to be the occasion of; to bring about; to bring into existence; to make; -- usually followed by an infinitive, sometimes by that with a finite verb.
(v. i.) To assign or show cause; to give a reason; to make excuse.
(conj.) Abbreviation of Because.
Edited by Lizzie
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. [1]. Origin, original, source, spring, mainspring.[2]. Ground, reason, motive, consideration, account, inducement, incentive, incitement, efficient cause.[3]. Purpose, object, aim, final cause.[4]. Effort, undertaking, enterprise.[5]. (Law.) Suit, action, case, trial.
v. a. [1]. Produce, create, originate, occasion, give rise to, bring into existence.[2]. Effect, bring about.
Editor: Rosanne
Synonyms and Antonyms
[See PRODUCE]
SYN:Source, origin, producer, agent, creator, purpose, inducement, reason, account,principle, motive, object, suit, action
ANT:Effect, result, accomplishment, end, production, issue, preventive
Checker: Thomas
Definition
n. that which produces an effect: that by or through which anything happens: motive: inducement: a legal action between contending parties: sake advantage: that side of a question which is taken up by an individual or party: (Shak.) accusation: (Shak.) matter affair in general.—v.t. to produce: to make to exist: to bring about: (Spens.) to give excuses.—conj. (dial.) because.—adj. Caus′al relating to a cause or causes.—n. Causal′ity the working of a cause: (phren.) the faculty of tracing effects to their causes.—adv. Caus′ally according to the order of causes.—ns. Causā′tion the act of causing: the bringing about of an effect; the relation of cause and effect; Causā′tionism the theory of causation; Causā′tionist a believer in the foregoing.—adj. Caus′ative expressing causation.—n. a form of verb or noun expressing such.—adv. Caus′atively.—adj. Cause′less having no cause or occasion.—adv. Cause′lessly.—ns. Cause′lessness; Caus′er one who causes an effect to be produced.—Cause c閘鑒re a convenient French term for a specially interesting and important legal trial criminal or civil.—Final cause the end or object for which a thing is done esp. the design of the universe; First cause the original cause or creator of all.—Hour of cause (Scot.) hour or time of trial.—Secondary causes such as are derived from a primary or first cause.—Have or Show cause to have to give reasons for a certain line of action; Make common cause (with) to unite for a common object; Show cause (Eng. law) to argue against the confirmation of a provisional order or judgment.—For Occasional causes see Occasionalism.
Checker: Salvatore
Examples
- Probably the chief cause of devotion to rigidity of method is, however, that it seems to promise speedy, accurately measurable, correct results. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- It was, in fact, the cause of my throwing myself in Mr Boffin's way, and entering his service. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- What is the cause of all this? Mary Shelley. Frankenstein_Or_The Modern Prometheus.
- Den Uncle Peter mus'n't sit in it, cause he al'ays hitches when he gets a singing. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
- Go, herald, and ask her whether she expects any one to do battle for her in this her cause. Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- You may as well say that the parents be the cause of a murder by the child, for without the parents the child would never have been begot. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- Do not suppose, however, that I wish to dictate happiness to you, or that a delay on your part would cause me any serious uneasiness. Mary Shelley. Frankenstein_Or_The Modern Prometheus.
- This accident caused some delay, but the other tubes were in the meantime progressing, and the completed bridge was opened for public traffic on the 21st of October, 1850. Frederick C. Bakewell. Great Facts.
- You will get over any trouble I have caused you, easily enough now. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
- What had caused this species to die out? Walter Libby. An Introduction to the History of Science.
- The exquisite pain and suffering endured previous to the use of anaesthetics often caused death by exhaustion. William Henry Doolittle. Inventions in the Century.
- In the distress that she caused me I forgot the years that had passed, and the change they had made in our position towards one another. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- The news of these reverses caused a very great excitement in Germany and Austria, and the Tsar assumed a more arrogant attitude towards his ally. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- As was to be expected, the card index and electrically operated features caused thousands of concerns, large and small, to adopt the addressograph. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- But these were secondary contributory causes. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- We can, however, see in a general manner that various causes might have interfered with the development of a long neck or proboscis. Charles Darwin. On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.
- The force of the water causes rotation of the turbine and of the shaft which is rigidly fastened to it. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- These qualities, then, are, properly speaking, the causes of our vanity, by means of their relation to ourselves. David Hume. A Treatise of Human Nature.
- Explosions have occurred, however, in cases where it is extremely doubtful whether gas has been present in dangerous quantity, and attention has been drawn to the possible causes. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- Is this a time--are these causes for weeping? Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- For though there appear no manner of connexion betwixt motion or thought, the case is the same with all other causes and effects. David Hume. A Treatise of Human Nature.
- As soon as the current flows, the coils become magnetic and attract the soft iron armature, drawing it forward and causing the clapper to strike the bell. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- The needle, in passing rapidly in contact with the recorded waves, was vibrated up and down, causing corresponding vibrations of the diaphragm. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- But, the latter application was by no means a success, causing Mr Fledgeby to scream, and to cry out, 'Oh my eye! Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- If ever delay was dangerous, it's dangerous now; and if ever you couldn't afterwards forgive yourself for causing it, this is the time. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- The cylinder stops, and current operates the sluggish press-magnet, causing its armature to be attracted, thus lifting the platen and its projecting arm. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- A great fire had burnt a large part of Rome, and the new sect was accused of causing this. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- And he took the heiress's two hands--causing her to let fall her whole cargo of flowers--and seated her by him on the sofa. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
Editor: Philip