final cause


noun Aristotelianism.

See under cause(def 8b).

Origin of final cause

First recorded in 1350–1400

Definition for final cause (2 of 2)

cause
[ kawz ]
/ kɔz /

noun

verb (used with object), caused, caus·ing.

to be the cause of; bring about.

Origin of cause

1175–1225; Middle English < Latin causa reason, sake, case

synonym study for cause

1. Cause, occasion refer to the starting of effects into motion. A cause is an agency, perhaps acting through a long time, or a long-standing situation, that produces an effect: The cause of the quarrel between the two men was jealousy. An occasion is an event that provides an opportunity for the effect to become evident, or perhaps promotes its becoming evident: The occasion was the fact that one man's wages were increased. 3. See reason.

OTHER WORDS FROM cause

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH cause

causality causation cause

British Dictionary definitions for final cause (1 of 2)

cause
/ (kɔːz) /

noun

verb

(tr) to be the cause of; bring about; precipitate; be the reason for

Derived forms of cause

causable, adjective causability, noun causeless, adjective causer, noun

Word Origin for cause

C13: from Latin causa cause, reason, motive

British Dictionary definitions for final cause (2 of 2)

final cause

noun

philosophy the end or purpose of a thing or process, as opposed to its efficient cause See cause (def. 7)

Idioms and Phrases with final cause

cause