Obs. Forms: 3–5 enchesun, -oun(e -own(e, 4–7 encheson(e, (4 encheison, -eyson, 5 enchesen, ? encihoson, inchessoun, 6 enchesson,) 6–7 encheason. Also ANCHESOUN. [a. OF. encheson, encheison, f. encheoir, lit. to fall in, hence to be in fault (whence encheement ‘instigation, cause,’ Godef.). The OF. word was influenced in meaning, if indeed its formation was not actually suggested, by the earlier acheson (see ACHESOUN):—L. occāsiōn-em occasion; the two words seem to have been entirely synonymous, acheson being more usual in continental OF., and encheson in AF. and in Eng.]
1. Occasion, cause, reason, motive.
1297. R. Glouc. (1724), 111. He ascode hem … for wat encheson heo come.
c. 1315. Shoreham, Poems, 120. More encheyson hadde oure levedy … blythe for to be.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 2237 (Fairf.). Quen we se enchesoun … we may clymbe vp and doun.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. VII. 40. Couetyse contreuede how ich myghte Be holde for holy … by þat encheison.
c. 1430. Henryson, Mor. Fab., 83. For what enchesson this Dogs skin haue ye borne?
a. 1450. Le Morte Arth., 56. He made inchessoun for to abyde.
c. 1450. Lonelich, Grail, xxxix. 466. Thanne knew he wel be his owne enchesown that he was a synnere ful grette.
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., May, 147. Thou … blamest hem much, for small encheason.
1597. Guistard & Sismond, B ij. Ease, rest, and delicates, what great encheason, They give to starre a man to corage.
a. 1618. J. Davies, Eglog. (1772), 110. Who whilom no encheson could fore-haile.
1641. Termes de la Ley, 135 b. Encheson … signifies … the occasion, cause, or reason for which any thing is done.
1642. Bird, Magazine of Honour, 86. Upon divers encheasons and occasions.
2. By, for encheason of: by reason of, because of.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Melibeus, ¶ 627. The ydel man excuseth him … in somer by enchesoun of the grete heat.
1488. Caxton, Chast. Goddes Chyld., 86. They trowen that by encheson of suche manere temptacyon they ben forgoten of her god.
1494. Fabyan, VI. clxxxvi. 187. For encheson that ye sayd William ayded a noble man of Pycardy.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., 112. The King be encheson [margin, Be reason, or because], that the overlord is within his waird, afterward giues that land to any man as escheit.
