causality
/kɔːˈzæləti/
noun
Origin
Latin
causalis — pertaining to a cause
Overview
Meaning Now
- The relationship between cause and effect.
- The principle that everything has a cause.
Language path
Latin → Middle French → English
Earliest form
causality
Earliest period
17th century
Journey
The term emerged in European philosophical discourse during the scientific revolution as scholars sought a formal term to describe the interconnectedness of events and the mechanisms behind physical phenomena.
Evolution
- Classical Latin
causa
“cause, reason, sake”
- Late Latin
causalis
“relating to a cause”
- Middle French
causalité
“the state of being causal”
- 17th Century English
causality
“the principle of cause and effect”
Connections
Word parts
caus-
root
cause
-al
suffix
relating to
-ity
suffix
state or condition
Related across languages
French
causalité
causality
German
Kausalität
causality
Related words
Explore next
Related to causality
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.