cause
1. cause \'ko.z\ \-l*s\ n [ME, fr. OF, fr. L causa] 1a: something that
occasions or effects a result 1b: a person or thing that is the occasion
of an action or state; esp : an agent that brings something about 1c:
REASON, MOTIVE 2a: a ground of legal action 2b: CASE 3: a matter or
question to be decided 4: a principle or movement militantly defended or
supported CCASION mean something that produces an effect. CAUSE applies to
any event, circumstance, or condition or any combination of these that
brings about or helps bring about a result; DETERMINANT applies to a cause
that fixes the nature of what results as a product or an outcome;
ANTECEDENT applies to that which has preceded and may therefore be in some
degree responsible for what follows or derives or descends from it; REASON
applies to a traceable or explainable cause of a known effect; OCCASION
applies to a particular time or situation at which underlying causes become
effective - cause.less aj SYN syn CAUSE, DETERMINANT, ANTECEDENT, REASON, O
2. cause vt 1: to serve as cause or occasion of 2: to effect by command,
authority, or force - caus.er n