1.  cause(n = noun.event) Array - events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something; "they are trying to determine the cause of the crash"
is a kind of inception, origin, origination
has particulars: antecedent, aetiology, etiology, factor, producer, mutagenesis
Derived forms adjective causal₁, verb cause₂, verb cause₁

2.  cause(n = noun.communication) grounds, reason - a justification for something existing or happening; "he had no cause to complain"; "they had good reason to rejoice"
is a kind of justification
Derived forms adjective causal₁, verb cause₂, verb cause₁

3.  cause(n = noun.act) campaign, crusade, drive, effort, movement - 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"
is a kind of venture
has particulars: ad blitz, ad campaign, advertising campaign, anti-war movement, charm campaign, consumerism, campaigning, candidacy, candidature, electioneering, political campaign, fund-raising campaign, fund-raising drive, fund-raising effort, feminism, feminist movement, women's lib, women's liberation movement, gay lib, gay liberation movement, lost cause, reform, war, youth crusade, youth movement

4.  cause(n = noun.tops) causal agency, causal agent - any entity that produces an effect or is responsible for events or results; Array
is a kind of physical entity
has particulars: individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul, agent, nature, occult, supernatural, theurgy, first cause, prime mover, primum mobile, destiny, fate, catalyst, deus ex machina, manipulator, operator, force, power, life principle, vital principle, engine, cause of death, killer, danger, agent
Derived forms adjective causal₁, verb cause₂, verb cause₁

5.  cause(n = noun.act) case, causa, lawsuit, suit - 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"
is a kind of legal proceeding, proceeding, proceedings
has particulars: civil suit, class-action suit, class action, countersuit, criminal suit, moot, bastardy proceeding, paternity suit

1.  cause(v = verb.creation) do, make - give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally; "cause a commotion"; "make a stir"; "cause an accident"
is one way to create, make
Derived forms noun causation₁, adjective causative₁, noun cause₄, noun cause₂, noun cause₁
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s something; Something ----s something

2.  cause(v = verb.communication) get, have, induce, make, stimulate - 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"
Derived forms noun causation₁, adjective causative₁, noun cause₄, noun cause₂, noun cause₁
Sample sentences: They cause him to write the letter

1.  That which produces or effects a result; that from which anything proceeds, and without which it would not exist. [1913 Webster]
"Cause is substance exerting its power into act, to make one thing begin to be." [1913 Webster]

2.  That which is the occasion of an action or state; ground; reason; motive; as, cause for rejoicing. [1913 Webster]

3.  Sake; interest; advantage. [1913 Webster]
"I did it not for his cause." [1913 Webster]

4.  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. [1913 Webster]

5.  Any subject of discussion or debate; matter; question; affair in general. [1913 Webster]
"What counsel give you in this weighty cause!" [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]
"God befriend us, as our cause is just." [1913 Webster]
"The part they take against me is from zeal to the cause." [1913 Webster]

   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. [1913 Webster]
"I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days." [1913 Webster]
"Cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans."

   To assign or show cause; to give a reason; to make excuse. Spenser. [1913 Webster]

   Abbreviation of Because. B. Jonson. [1913 Webster]

cause, n. & v.
--n.
1 a that which produces an effect, or gives rise to an action, phenomenon, or condition. b a person or thing that occasions something. c a reason or motive; a ground that may be held to justify something (no cause for complaint).
2 a reason adjudged adequate (show cause).
3 a principle, belief, or purpose which is advocated or supported (faithful to the cause).
4 a a matter to be settled at law. b an individual's case offered at law (plead a cause).
5 the side taken by any party in a dispute.
--v.tr.
1 be the cause of, produce, make happen (caused a commotion).
2 (foll. by to + infin.) induce (caused me to smile; caused it to be done).

Idiom:
in the cause of to maintain, defend, or support (in the cause of justice). make common cause with join the side of.

Derivative:
causable adj. causeless adj. causer n.

Etymology:
ME f. OF f. L causa

N  cause, origin, source, principle, element, occasioner, prime mover, primum mobile, vera causa, author, mainspring, agent, leaven, groundwork, foundation, spring, fountain, well, font, fountainhead, spring head, wellhead, fons et origo, genesis, descent, remote cause, influence, pivot, hinge, turning point, lever, crux, fulcrum, key, proximate cause, causa causans, straw that breaks the camel's back, ground, reason, reason why, why and wherefore, rationale, occasion, derivation, final cause, les dessous des cartes, undercurrents, rudiment, egg, germ, embryo, bud, root, radix radical, etymon, nucleus, seed, stem, stock, stirps, trunk, tap-root, gemmule, radicle, semen, sperm, nest, cradle, nursery, womb, nidus, birthplace, hotbed, causality, causation, origination, production, caused, causal, original, primary, primitive, primordial, aboriginal, protogenal, radical, embryonic, embryotic, in embryo, in ovo, seminal, germinal, at the bottom of, connate, having a common origin, because, behind the scenes, causa latet vis est notissima, felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas.

VB  be the cause of, originate, give origin to, give rise, to, give occasion to, cause, occasion, sow the seeds of, kindle, suscitate, bring on, bring to bring pass, bring about, produce, create, set up, set afloat, set on foot, found, broach, institute, lay the foundation of, lie at the root of, procure, induce, draw down, open the door to, superinduce, evoke, entail, operate, elicit, provoke, conduce to, contribute, have a hand in the pie, have a finger in the pie, determine, decide, turn the scale, have a common origin, derive its origin.

VB  produce, perform, operate, do, make, gar, form, construct, fabricate, frame, contrive, manufacture, weave, forge, coin, carve, chisel, build, raise, edify, rear, erect, put together, set up, run up, establish, constitute, compose, organize, institute, achieve, accomplish, flower, bear fruit, fructify, teem, ean, yean, farrow, drop, pup, kitten, kindle, bear, lay, whelp, bring forth, give birth to, lie in, be brought to bed of, evolve, pullulate, usher into the world, make productive, create, beget, get, generate, fecundate, impregnate, procreate, progenerate, propagate, engender, bring into being, call into being, bring into existence, breed, hatch, develop, bring up, induce, superinduce, suscitate, cause, acquire.

N  lawsuit, suit, action, cause, litigation, suit in law, dispute, citation, arraignment, prosecution, impeachment, accusation, presentment, true bill, indictment, apprehension, arrest, committal, imprisonment, writ, summons, subpoena, latitat, nisi prius, venire, venire facias pleadings, declaration, bill, claim, proces verbal, bill of right, information, corpus delicti, affidavit, state of facts, answer, reply, replication, plea, demurrer, rebutter, rejoinder, surrebutter, surrejoinder, suitor, party to a suit, plaintiff, defendant, litigant, hearing, trial, verdict, appeal, appeal motion, writ of error, certiorari, case, decision, precedent, decided case, reports (legal reference works, see reference books), litigious, qui tam, coram judice, sub judice, pendente lite, adhuc sub judice lis est, accedas ad curiam, transeat in exemplum.

cause celebre, cause of action, cause of death, cause to be perceived, cause to sleep, final cause, first cause, lost cause, probable cause