cause

Where does the word "cause" come from? It comes from Latin causa, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Cause’s story begins in Latin: causa meant “reason, lawsuit.” The root of 'accuse' and 'excuse'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as cause. Both a reason and a case at law. It reached English by 1200s as cause. 'cause' as a movement people support dates from the 1800s. Today, cause means a reason for something.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient causa "reason, lawsuit", the root of 'accuse' and 'excuse'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval cause "cause", both a reason and a case at law.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s cause "reason; lawsuit", 'cause' as a movement people support dates from the 1800s.