Also 5 cawse, cawes, 6 causse. [ad. med.L. causāre, as used, by the Schoolmen, in sense ‘efficere.’ (Classical L. had only causāri (later causāre) to plead causes, give reasons or excuses. Hence also It. causare, Sp. cauzar, F. causer, all in same sense as Eng.]
1. trans. To be the cause of; to effect, bring about, produce, induce, make.
c. 1340. Hampole, Prose Tr., viii. 17. A fantasye caused of trubblyng of þe brayne.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 107. They [the stars] causen many a wonder To the climats, that stond hem under.
c. 1430. Chev. Assigne, 39. His moder … þat cawsed moche sorowe.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 4 b. That … oftentymes causeth heresyes & errours.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 763. A Drench of Wine … the Patient’s Death did cause.
1764. Goldsm., Trav., 430. How small of all that human hearts endure, That part which laws or kings can cause or cure.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 55. The ruin of their empire was caused by the loss of freedom and the growth of despotism.
b. Const. object and inf. with (formerly also without) to.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 114. It causeth … A man to be subtil of wit.
c. 1485. Digby Myst. (1882), IV. 543. How durst thou … to be so bold To cawse hym dy?
1552. Abp. Hamilton, Catech. (1884), 34. It sall cause the cum in great dangeir.
1610. B. Jonson, Alch., II. iii. Take heed, you doe not cause the blessing leaue you.
1611. Bible, Amos viii. 9. I will cause the Sunne to go downe at noone.
1625. Hart, Anat. Ur., II. iv. 73. I caused him bleed oftner then once.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 216. Out of the fertil ground he caus’d to grow All trees.
1842. W. Grove, Corr. Phys. Forces, 10. It is the gravitation of the water which causes it to flow.
c. with obj. and inf. pass.
1494. Fabyan, I. iii. 10. They … caused great fyres to be made.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. civ. [cv.] 20. Then sent the kinge and caused him be delyuered.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., III. i. 42. She caused them be led … Into a bowre.
1678. Wanley, Wond. Lit. World, V. ii. § 84. 472/2. He … caused his five Brethren to be all strangled in his presence.
1821. J. Q. Adams, in C. Davies, Metric Syst., III. 127. To cause a statement in writing … to be hung up in some conspicuous place.
† d. with inf. simply, as to cause make, to have or get (something) made, cause (it) to be made. (Cf. F. faire faire, etc.) Obs. ? exc. Sc.
1535. Coverdale, 1 Kings ii. 36. The kynge sent, and caused for to call Semei.
a. 1649. Drumm. of Hawth., Hist. Jas. I., Wks. (1711), 5. The king … caused abolish the indictment.
a. 1693. Urquhart, Rabelais, III. xliv. 358. She caused kill them.
1753. Scots Mag., XV. Feb., 91/2. The directors had caused prepare the draught of the bill.
1820. Mair, Tyro’s Dict. (ed. 10), 5. Numa caused make eleven more [shields] of the same form.
e. with obj. sentence. arch.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 108. That causeth why that some passe Her due cours to-fore another.
c. 1510. Virgilius, in Thoms, Prose Rom., 23. She caused workemen shulde make the walles ageyne.
1611. Bible, John xi. 37. Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blinde, haue caused that euen this man should not haue died?
1722. De Foe, Plague (1756), 93. This caus’d, that many died frequently … in the Streets suddenly.
† 2. To actuate, move, force, drive (an agent) to (some action or emotion). Obs.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 13402. What causet the kyng to his cleane yre.
c. 1430. Syr Tryam., 641. Grete nede cawsyth hur therto.
† 3. As vb. of incomplete predication: To make or render (a thing something). (Cf. L. efficere.)
1576. Baker, Jewell of Health, 90 a. If oftener it shall be dystilled, it is then caused the effectuouser. Ibid., 113 a. It causeth them also most white.
1579. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 188. An honest life will cause it a pleasaunt lyuing.
† 4. To give reasons or excuses [= L. causāri].
1596. Spenser, F. Q., III. ix. 26. He, to shifte their curious request, Gan causen why she could not come in place.
