cause: [13] Cause comes via Old French cause from Latin causa, which as well as ‘reason’ meant ‘law-suit’; this was carried over into English legal language (it survives in terms such as cause-list ‘list of cases to be tried’) and its use in expressions like ‘plead someone’s cause’ led in the late 16th century to a more general application ‘goal or principle pursued or supported’. French chose ‘thing’ also comes from Latin causa, in the weakened sense ‘matter, subject’. => excuse
cause (n.)
c. 1200, "reason for action, grounds for action; motive," from Old French cause "cause, reason; lawsuit, case in law" (12c.), and directly from Latin causa "a cause; a reason; interest; judicial process, lawsuit," which is of unknown origin. In English, sense of "matter of concern; side taken in controversy" is from c. 1300; that of "the source of an effect" is early 14c.; meaning "reason for something taking place" is late 14c. Cause célèbre "celebrated legal case" is 1763, from French. Cause why? "for what reason?" is in Chaucer.
cause (v.)
late 14c., "produce an effect," also "impel, compel," from Old French causer "to cause" (13c.) and directly from Medieval Latin causare, from Latin causa "a cause; a reason; interest; judicial process, lawsuit," which is of unknown origin. Related: Caused; causing. Classical Latin causari meant "to plead, to debate a question."
实用例句
1. His misunderstanding of language was the primary cause of his other problems.
他对语言的误解是引起其他问题的主要原因。
来自柯林斯例句
2. Accidents are still the number one cause of premature death for Americans.
交通事故仍然是造成美国人过早死亡的头号因素。
来自柯林斯例句
3. Investment could dry up and that could cause the economy to falter.
投资可能会中断，而这会引起经济衰退。
来自柯林斯例句
4. This was a genuine mistake, but it did cause me some worry.
这是好心办错事，可是确实让我担心了一阵子。
来自柯林斯例句
5. Premature birth is the main cause of perinatal mortality.
