cause

Main Entry:
cause [kawz]
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: agent, originator
Synonyms: account, agency, aim, antecedent, author, basis, beginning, causation, consideration, creator, determinant, doer, element, end, explanation, foundation, genesis, ground, grounds, incitement, inducement, instigation, leaven, mainspring, maker, matter, motivation, motive, object, occasion, origin, prime mover, principle, producer, purpose, root, source, spring, stimulation
Antonyms: consequence, development, effect, end, fruit, issue, outcome, outgrowth, product, result
Main Entry: cause
Part of Speech: verb
Definition: bring into being; bring about
Synonyms: be at the bottom of, begin, brainstorm*, break in, break the ice, breed, bring to pass, come out with, compel, cook up, create, dream up, effect, elicit, engender, evoke, fire up, generate, get things rolling, give rise to, hatch, incite, induce, introduce, kickoff, kindle, lead to, let, make, make up, motivate, muster, occasion, open, originate, precipitate, produce, provoke, result in, revert, secure, sow the seeds, start the ball rolling, think up, work up
Related Words
Main Entry: cause
Part of Speech: noun, verb
Related
Adjectives:
aboriginal, agnogenic, ambiotic, cacestogenous, causal, connate, efficacious, embryonic, embryotic, germinal, original, originated, primary, primitive, primordial, princeps, radical, seminal, subjacent
Concept Thesaurus
Concept: [Constant antecedent] Cause.
Category: 1. CONSTANCY OF SEQUENCE IN EVENTS
Synonyms:
-nouns
cause, origin, source, principle, element; occasioner, prime mover, primum mobile; vera causa; author (producer); mainspring; agent; leaven; groundwork, foundation (support)., spring, fountain, well, font; fountainhead, spring head, wellhead; fons et origo, genesis; descent (paternity); 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 (intention); 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.
-verbs
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 (tend 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 (effect).
-adjectives
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.
-adverbs
because; behind the scenes.
-phrases
causa latet vis est notissima [Ovid]; felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas [Vergil. "Happy is he who has been able to learn the causes of things" (Latin)].
Antonyms: effect
Browse Concept Index »
Main Entry: account
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: basis or consideration for action
Synonyms: cause, ground, grounds, interest, justification, motive, rationale, rationalization, reason, regard, sake
Main Entry: action
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: a legal process
Synonyms: case, cause, claim, lawsuit, litigation, proceeding, prosecution, suit
Main Entry: actuate
Part of Speech: verb
Definition: start a function or action, motivate
Synonyms: activate, animate, arouse, cause, drive, egg on, energize, excite, fire up, impel, incite, induce, influence, inspire, instigate, key up, mobilize, motivate, move, prompt, propel, put up to, quicken, rouse, spur, stimulate, turn on, work into lather, work up
Notes: when something is activated, it is made active; when something is actuated, it is moved to take action (or produce a consequence)
to actuate is a general word meaning 'to set working' and has more to do with mechanical action - while activate is used mainly in scientific expressions
Antonyms: impede, stop
Main Entry: agent
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: power, instrument for achievement
Synonyms: cause, channel, factor, force, means, medium, organ, power, vehicle
Main Entry: as
Part of Speech: conjunction
Definition: because
Synonyms: as long as, being, cause, considering, for, for the reason that, inasmuch as, now, seeing that, since, whereas
Notes: use 'like' when no verb follows; use 'as' when a clause follows (which has a subject and a verb)
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