Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Cause \Cause\ (k[add]z), n. [F. cause, fr. L. causa. Cf.
   {Cause}, v., {Kickshaw}.]
   1. That which produces or effects a result; that from which
      anything proceeds, and without which it would not exist.

            Cause is substance exerting its power into act, to
            make one thing begin to be.           --Locke.

   2. That which is the occasion of an action or state; ground;
      reason; motive; as, cause for rejoicing.

   3. Sake; interest; advantage. [Obs.]

            I did it not for his cause.           --2 Cor. vii.
                                                  12.

   4. (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.

   5. Any subject of discussion or debate; matter; question;
      affair in general.

            What counsel give you in this weighty cause! --Shak.

   6. The side of a question, which is espoused, advocated, and
      upheld by a person or party; a principle which is
      advocated; that which a person or party seeks to attain.

            God befriend us, as our cause is just. --Shak.

            The part they take against me is from zeal to the
            cause.                                --Burke.

   {Efficient cause}, the agent or force that produces a change
      or result.

   {Final cause}, the end, design, or object, for which anything
      is done.

   {Formal cause}, the elements of a conception which make the
      conception or the thing conceived to be what it is; or the
      idea viewed as a formative principle and co["o]perating
      with the matter.

   {Material cause}, that of which anything is made.

   {Proximate cause}. See under {Proximate}.

   {To make common cause with}, to join with in purposes and
      aims. --Macaulay.

   Syn: Origin; source; mainspring; motive; reason; incitement;
        inducement; purpose; object; suit; action.

Cause \Cause\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Caused}; p. pr. & v. n.
   {Causing}.] [F. causer, fr. cause, fr. L. causa. See {Cause},
   n., and cf. {Acouse}.]
   To effect as an agent; to produce; to be the occasion of; to
   bring about; to bring into existence; to make; -- usually
   followed by an infinitive, sometimes by that with a finite
   verb.

         I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days.
                                                  --Gen. vii. 4.

         Cause that it be read also in the church of the
         Laodiceans.                              --Col. iv. 16.

   Syn: To create; produce; beget; effect; occasion; originate;
        induce; bring about.

Cause \Cause\, v. i.
   To assign or show cause; to give a reason; to make excuse.
   [Obs.] --Spenser.

Cause \Cause\, conj.
   Abbreviation of {Because}. --B. Jonson.

Source : WordNet®

cause
     v 1: give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always
          intentionally; "cause a commotion"; "make a stir";
          "cause an accident" [syn: {do}, {make}]
     2: cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner; "The ads
        induced me to buy a VCR"; "My children finally got me to
        buy a computer"; "My wife made me buy a new sofa" [syn: {induce},
         {stimulate}, {have}, {get}, {make}]

cause
     n 1: events that provide the generative force that is the origin
          of something; "they are trying to determine the cause of
          the crash"
     2: a justification for something existing or happening; "he had
        no cause to complain"; "they had good reason to rejoice"
        [syn: {reason}, {grounds}]
     3: a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward
        a particular end; "he supported populist campaigns"; "they
        worked in the cause of world peace"; "the team was ready
        for a drive toward the pennant"; "the movement to end
        slavery"; "contributed to the war effort" [syn: {campaign},
         {crusade}, {drive}, {movement}, {effort}]
     4: any entity that causes events to happen [syn: {causal agent},
         {causal agency}]
     5: a comprehensive term for any proceeding in a court of law
        whereby an individual seeks a legal remedy; "the family
        brought suit against the landlord" [syn: {lawsuit}, {suit},
         {case}, {causa}]