cause

Everyday

1. What makes something happen: "The cause of the fire was a candle." tree →
2. As a verb, to make something happen: "Ice can cause accidents." tree →
3. A goal or idea that people support: "a good cause". tree →
4. A cause can also be a reason to feel or do something, as in "cause for worry". tree →

In the lessons

In science, "cause and effect": one thing (cause) makes another (effect) happen; good scientists test causes carefully. In reading, find the cause and effect in a story. In safety: think about what might cause an accident. Phrases: cause and effect, the cause of, for a good cause, cause trouble.

Examples

• What was the cause of the accident? tree →
• Heat causes ice to melt. tree →
• Germs cause many illnesses. tree →
• Running in the corridor can cause accidents. tree →
• We raised money for a good cause. tree →
• The storm caused a lot of damage. tree →
• Cause and effect: rain causes puddles. tree →
• Don't cause trouble. tree →
• The Beasts, too, had cause for fight. tree →

Note

Things happening together do not always mean one causes the other. "Because" comes from "by cause". "Cause" is often used for bad things ("cause damage").

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah it often means a legal case, a person's complaint brought to a judge. It can also be a verb meaning to make something happen, as in "cause Jerusalem to know".

Interpretation. Tradition reads these verses as a command of justice. Judges must not favour either the poor or the rich, and the daughters of Zelophehad's case was brought to God by Moses. In Lamentations and the psalms, people ask God to judge their cause, trusting Him as the true judge.

Examples

• And Moses brought their cause before the LORD. (Torah NUM.27.5, JPS 1917) tree →
• neither shalt thou favour a poor man in his cause. (Torah EXO.23.3, JPS 1917) tree →
• Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause. (Torah EXO.23.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• 'Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations, (Prophets EZK.16.2, JPS 1917) tree →
• To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not. (Writings LAM.3.36, JPS 1917) tree →
• O LORD, Thou hast seen my wrong; judge Thou my cause. (Writings LAM.3.59, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Things happening together do not always mean one causes the other. "Because" comes from "by cause". "Cause" is often used for bad things ("cause damage").