a. (sb.) [ad. L. causālis relating to a cause, f. causa cause: cf. F. causal.]
1. Of or relating to a cause or causes.
1570. Billingsley, Euclid, XI. def. xii. 316. A causall definition geuen by the Cause efficient.
1677. Gale, Crt. Gentiles, II. IV. 268. The independence of the Divine Essence as to al causes and causal limitation.
1858. Whewell, Novum Org. Renov., 121 (L.). Aiming at the formation of a causal section in each science of phenomena.
2. Of the nature of a cause; acting as a cause.
1642. View of Print. Book int. Observat., 12. This peoples election … hath no causall influx at all into the Regall power conveyed.
1672. H. More, Brief Reply, 262. As being a means to this end, and, therefore, Causal thereto.
1699. Burnet, 39 Art., xvii. 162. The Certainty of the Prescience is not antecedent or causal, but subsequent and eventual.
1858. Mansel, Bampton Lect., ii. (ed. 4), 34. The condition of causal activity.
1881. P. Brooks, Candle of Lord, 101. One supreme causal God.
3. Of the nature of cause and effect.
1656. H. More, Antid. Ath., III. iii. (1712), 91. Any causal connexion betwixt those ceremonies and the ensuing Tempests.
1712. Blackmore, Creation, 225. The links of all the causal chain.
1855. H. Spencer, Princ. Psychol. (1872), I. IV. vii. 463. The causal connexions among those traits were obscured by other connexions.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, Lit., Wks. (Bohn), II. 109. That … the term cause and effect was loosely or gratuitously applied to what we know only as consecutive, not at all as causal.
4. Gram. and Logic. Expressing a cause. Causal proposition: see quot. 1724.
c. 1530. More, Answ. Frith, Wks. 840/2. Thoughe I woulde graunt this causale proposicion.
a. 1638. Mede, Wks., I. xix. (1672), 70. A causal or conditional Conjunction.
1655. Gurnall, Chr. in Arm., i. § 2 (1669), 59/1. The words are coupled to the precedent with that causal particle For.
1724. Watts, Logic, 167. Causal propositions are, where two propositions are joined by causal particles; as, houses were not built, that they might be destroyed.
1870. Jebb, Sophocles’ Electra (ed. 2), 8/2. Γήρᾳ and χρόνῳ … are causal datives.
B. as sb. a. A causal conjunction or particle.
1530. Palsgr., 148. Some [conjunctions] be causales & serve to bring in a sentence whereby the cause of a mater spoken of before is expressed.
1750. Harris, Hermes, ii. (1786), 245. Causals subjoin causes to effects.
b. A thing implying a cause.
1652. W. Sclater, Civil Magist. (1653), 25. Causalls they are,… Casual they are not.
