cause

Etymology

* 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. See accuse, excuse, recuse, ruse. Displaced native Old English intinga. * From Middle English causen, Old French causer and Medieval Latin causāre.

noun

1. (countable, often with of, typically of adverse results) 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.
2. (uncountable, especially with for and a bare noun) Sufficient reason for a state, as of emotion.
   There is no cause for alarm.
   The end of the war was a cause for celebration.
3. (countable) A goal, aim or principle, especially one which transcends purely selfish ends.
   I'm not fighting for anything anymore, except myself. I'm the only cause I'm interested in. 1942, Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein, Howard Koch, Casablanca, spoken by Rick (Humphrey Bogart)
   There is much to regret about America's failure in Vietnam. The reasons are etched in black marble on the Washington Mall. But we had believed the cause that America had asked us to serve in Vietnam was a worthy one, and millions who defended it had done so honorably. 1999, John McCain, Faith of My Fathers, New York: Random House, page 348
   "I thought you were loyal to the cause, Paul." “I was,” Grayson answered. “Then I saw the kind of people who share your vision, and I had a change of heart.” 2008, Drew Karpyshyn, “Epilogue”, in Mass Effect: Ascension, Del Rey Books, page 341
4. (obsolete) Sake; interest; advantage.
5. (countable, obsolete) Any subject of discussion or debate; a matter; an affair.
6. (countable, 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.

verb

1. (transitive) To set off an event or action.
   The lightning caused thunder.
   An artificial kidney these days still means a refrigerator-sized dialysis machine. Such devices mimic[…]real kidneys[…]. But they are nothing like as efficient, and can cause bleeding, clotting and infection—not to mention inconvenience for patients, who typically need to be hooked up to one three times a week for hours at a time. 2013-06-01, “A better waterworks”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8838, page 5 (Technology Quarterly)
2. (ditransitive) To actively produce as a result, by means of force or authority.
   His dogged determination caused the fundraising to be successful.
3. (obsolete) To assign or show cause; to give a reason; to make excuse.

conj

1. Alternative form of 'cause; because