cause
AI In plain words
Writing a short explanation…
Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.
cause¹
- /kɔːz/ UK
- [kʰo̞ːz̥] UK
- /koːz/ Australia, British, New Zealand, Southern, Standard
- [kʰoːz̥] Australia, British, New Zealand, Southern, Standard
- /kɔz/
- /kɑz/ cot caught merger
- /kɒz/ Canada
- /kɔz/ Scotland
- [kʰɔːz̥] Scotland
Sounds like caws, 'cause, cores (non-rhotic) · Rhymes with -ɔːz
Where it comes from
* From Middle English cause (also with the sense of “a thing”), borrowed from Old French cause (“a cause, a thing”), borrowed from Latin causa (“reason, sake, cause”), from Proto-Italic *kaussā, which is of unknown origin. Doublet of chose (“(law) a thing; personal property”). See accuse, excuse, recuse, ruse. Displaced native Old English intinga.
* From Middle English causen, Old French causer and Medieval Latin causāre.
noun causes
- The source of, or reason for, an event or action; that which produces or effects a result. They identified a burst pipe as the cause of the flooding.
- Sufficient reason. There is no cause for alarm.
- A goal, aim or principle, especially one which transcends purely selfish ends. God befriend us, as our cause is just.
- Sake; interest; advantage. I did it not for his cause.
- Any subject of discussion or debate; a matter; an affair. What counsel give you in this weighty cause?
- 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.
Similar: basis, cause, genesis, germ, origin, principle, reason, root, source
verb causes · causing · caused · cause
- To set off an event or action; to bring about; to produce. The lightning caused thunder.
- To actively produce as a result, by means of force or authority. His dogged determination caused the fundraising to be successful.
- To assign or show cause; to give a reason; to make excuse. He, to shifte their curious request, / Gan causen why she could not come in place.
cause²
conjunction
- Alternative form of 'cause; because'cause Why not? Cause I don't wanna.