Cause
/kɔːz/noun
A person or thing that brings about an effect or result; a reason or motive.
Did you know?English “cause” entered through Old French from Latin causa, a word that could mean a legal case, a reason, or a motive—so the idea of “cause and effect” was born in the language of argument and judgment.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Italic
PII
*kausā
“likely a matter, legal case, or reason”
Classical Latin
Latin
causa
“a cause, reason, motive, or legal case”
Old French
Old French
cause
“cause, reason, lawsuit, legal matter”
Middle English
English
cause
“a reason, motive, or legal case”
Modern English
English
cause
“that which produces an effect; a reason or motive”