Middle English Dictionary Entry

cause n.
Quotations: Show all Hide all

Entry Info

Forms cause n.
Etymology OF cause & L causa. ME cause overlaps cās 'case' in meaning, esp. in senses 6 & 7.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1a.
The cause of an effect; source, origin, root.
Show 22 Quotations
1b.
In specific uses: (a) one of the four causes distinguished by Aristotle: efficient, affectif, making, werking ~, that by which something is produced; material ~, the material out of which something is produced; formal ~, the disposition of the parts of the thing produced; final, ending ~, the purpose for which the thing is produced; (b) ~ causing [L causa causans], primary cause; accidental ~, incidental cause; fer ~, remote cause; first, original, prime ~, original cause; specif., the Creator; ner, ni ~, immediate cause; seconde ~, secondary cause.
Show 21 Quotations
1c.
Med. antecedent, going afore, going tofore ~, a prior corporeal cause; cold, dri, or hot ~, a condition with an excess of one of these 'humors' in the bodily complexion; communicate (communihede) ~, a corporeal cause extrinsic to the affected member; conjunct, commun, joined ~, an immediate corporeal cause; immediate ~, immediate cause; inward, withinforth ~, a corporeal cause; primitif, first, former, primari ~, a non-corporeal cause; private ~, a corporeal cause within the affected member; secondari ~, secondary cause; straunge, withoutforth ~, a non-corporeal cause.
Show 16 Quotations
2.
A condition, person, or thing which affords opportunity for a cause to operate; indirect cause; occasion.
Show 10 Quotations
3.
(a) The reason for something taking place or for something being so; rational explanation; the reason why; (b) ~ whi, ~ for whi, ~ whi for.
Show 21 Quotations
4.
(a) Reason or ground for action; motive; (b) adequate reason, justification; ~ resonable, juste ~; (c) feigned cause; pretext, excuse; feined ~; (d) blame for an action.
Show 36 Quotations
5.
The object of action or being; aim, intent; purpose, end; maken ~, to further (one's) purpose.
Show 11 Quotations
6.
A matter of interest or concern; an affair or undertaking; a side taken in controversy; a cause; availen ~, advance a cause; in hir ouen ~, in her own interest; in godes ~, for God's sake.
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7.
(a) A matter of legal or quasi-legal controversy; a legal action or case; (one's) contention in law; a matter at issue, dispute; ~ of lawe, a point of law; (b) the charge brought against a person; a statement of this charge; maken, casten ~, make an accusation or charge.
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8.
Miscel. senses: (a) a case of illness; (b) an event or deed; (c) a situation or case; (d) an instance.
Show 9 Quotations
9b.
ben in (the) ~, to be the cause, occasion, or reason; be responsible or to blame.
Show 8 Quotations
9b.
(a) bi the ~ of, on account of, by reason of, because of; cp. bicause; (b) bi the (that) ~ (that), because of the fact that, for the reason that, because.
Show 5 Quotations
9c.
cause of, by reason of, on account of, because of.
Show 2 Quotations
9d.
for (the) ~ of: (a) on account of, because of; (b) for the sake or benefit of, on behalf of; (c) by consequence or reason of; (d) for the purpose of attaining (sth.), for the sake of.
Show 12 Quotations
9e.
for (the) ~ (that): (a) on account of the fact that, for the reason that, because; (b) in order that.
Show 10 Quotations
9f.
in (the) ~ of, for the sake of.
Show 2 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • (1425) RParl.()4.298a : Yat my said Lordes of Gloucestre and of Wynchestr'..nevere hereafter tak cause, querele, displeasaunce, or hevynesse, yat oon ayens yat oy~er, ne nevere ayenst ye Counselers, Adherentes or Favourers of yat oy~er.
    • Note: Modify gloss.
    Note: Quot. belongs to sense 7.(a).
    Note: Add phrase: taken ~ ayenes, to bring a lawsuit against (sb.), take legal action against.
    Note: This quot. has been taken back to books.--notes per MLL
  • ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)44b/b : Cause particler , pacient, or suffryng [Ch.(2): The particuler cause and sufferynge; L Cause particularis patiens] was disposicion of þe body as cachochimia, i. yuel chimez & debilitacioun & opilacioun.
    • Note: New combinations for sense 1c.
    Note: ~ particuler, particuler ~, a special cause, a cause that sets upon a specific thing; ~ paciente (sufferinge), a passive cause, a condition which contributes to an effect by being acted upon.--per SMK

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