cause
/kɔːz/
noun
Origin
Latin
causa — reason, cause, purpose, sake, interest
Overview
Meaning Now
- A person, thing, or event that makes something happen.
- A principle, aim, or movement that, because of a deep commitment, one is prepared to defend or advocate.
Literal older meaning
that which produces an effect
Language path
Latin → Old French → Middle English → English
Earliest form
caus
Earliest period
13th century
Journey
The word entered English through French after the Norman Conquest. Its Latin root, 'causa', was heavily used in Roman law to refer to a lawsuit or a legal matter, which influenced the sense of a 'case' or 'reason for action' in early English usage.
Evolution
- Latin
causa
“a judicial process, reason, cause”
originally a legal or judicial term
- Old French
cause
“reason, motive, cause”
adopted into French from Latin
- Middle English
caus
“reason, justification, a legal case”
borrowed after the Norman Conquest
Connections
Word parts
cause
root
a thing that gives rise to an event
Related across languages
French
cause
Spanish
causa
cause
Italian
causa
cause
Explore next
Related to cause
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.