*cause*

n. [ F. cause, fr. L. causa. Cf. Cause, v., Kickshaw. ] 1. That which produces or effects a result; that from which anything proceeds, and without which it would not exist. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cause is substance exerting its power into act, to make one thing begin to be. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is the occasion of an action or state; ground; reason; motive; as, cause for rejoicing. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Sake; interest; advantage. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I did it not for his cause. 2 Cor. vii. 12. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Law) 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Any subject of discussion or debate; matter; question; affair in general. [ 1913 Webster ]

What counsel give you in this weighty cause! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

God befriend us, as our cause is just. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The part they take against me is from zeal to the cause. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Efficient cause, the agent or force that produces a change or result. --
Final cause, the end, design, or object, for which anything is done. --
Formal cause, the elements of a conception which make the conception or the thing conceived to be what it is; or the idea viewed as a formative principle and cooperating with the matter. --
Material cause, that of which anything is made. --
Proximate cause. See under Proximate. --
To make common cause with, to join with in purposes and aims. Macaulay.

Syn. -- Origin; source; mainspring; motive; reason; incitement; inducement; purpose; object; suit; action. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Caused p. pr. & vb. n. Causing. ] [ F. causer, fr. cause, fr. L. causa. See Cause, n., and cf. Acouse. ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days. Gen. vii. 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans. Col. iv. 16.

Syn. -- To create; produce; beget; effect; occasion; originate; induce; bring about. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To assign or show cause; to give a reason; to make excuse. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

conj. Abbreviation of Because. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Having a cause. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Self-originating; uncreated. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Without just or sufficient reason; groundless. [ 1913 Webster ]

My fears are causeless and ungrounded. Denham. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Without cause or reason. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of being causeless. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who or that which causes. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F., fr. causer to chat. ] Informal talk or discussion, as about literary matters; light conversation; chat. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

‖n. [ F., fr. causer to talk. ] A kind of sofa for two persons. A tête-à-tête. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ OE. cauci, cauchie, OF. cauchie, F. chaussée, from LL. (via) calciata, fr calciare to make a road, either fr. L. calx lime, hence, to pave with limestone (cf. E. chalk), or from L. calceus shoe, from calx heel, hence, to shoe, pave, or wear by treading. ] A way or road raised above the natural level of the ground, serving as a dry passage over wet or marshy ground. [ 1913 Webster ]

But that broad causeway will direct your way. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

The other way Satan went down
The causey to Hell-gate. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Having a raised way (causeway or causey); paved. Sir W. Scott. C. Bronté. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A joint cause. Fotherby. [ 1913 Webster ]