cause
Translation
cause, reason, principle, motive
Examples
What was the cause of the fire?
What was the cause of the fire?
He is fighting for a good cause.
He is fighting for a good cause.
Grammar Patterns
the cause of ((sth.)) the reason for (sth.) The police are investigating the cause of the accident.
Similar Words
Synonyms: reason, source, origin; Antonyms: effect, result, consequence
Etymology
From Latin 'causa' meaning 'a cause, reason, a judicial process, a case'.
Memory Tips
Think 'What is the cause of this effect?'. The phrase 'cause and effect' is a common pairing.