Cause (noun) refers to the reason something happens or the objective or goal that someone aims to achieve. It also denotes a principle or aim that people support or defend. In everyday use, it can describe both the impetus behind an event and the organization or movement backing a belief or action.
"The cause of the accident is still under investigation."
"She volunteered for a charitable cause she believes in."
"The new policy is aimed at a social justice cause."
"They rallied to support the environmental cause."
Cause comes from the Latin causa meaning 'a reason, motive, or legal cause.' The term entered English via Old French cause, also meaning 'reason' or 'motive.' In Latin, causa referred to a 'case' or 'gate' of reasoning, with related forms in legal contexts (causae in plural). Over time, English expanded the sense to include a broader set of motivations and aims, including social or moral purposes. By the 14th century, cause was used in legal and philosophical contexts to denote the justification or rationale behind actions. In modern usage, cause retains both a practical sense (the reason for something) and a more abstract sense (a principle worth pursuing), and it can also signify a campaign or movement (a charitable cause). The word’s adaptability is reflected in phrases like cause and effect, cause célèbre, and cause for alarm, illustrating its evolution from a concrete justification to a broad spectrum of aims and advocacy. First known use in English appears in Middle English texts and can be traced to Latin via Old French, with sustained usage in legal, philosophical, and social discourse across centuries.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Cause" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Cause" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Cause"
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Pronounce it as /kɔːz/ (US /koʊz/). The initial sound is a voiceless velar plosive /k/ followed by an open back rounded vowel /ɔː/ (or /oʊ/ in some dialects). The final /z/ is a voiced alveolar fricative. Stress is on the single syllable; ensure the vowel is steady and the final z is voiced, not a voiceless /s/ sound. Practice by saying 'core' with a z at the end, placing your tongue high back and rounding slightly, and let the voice connect smoothly into the final /z/.
Common mistakes include mispronouncing the vowel as a short /ɒ/ or /æ/ (sounding like 'cat') and dropping the final voiced /z/ to a /s/ or /z̥/ unvoiced hiss. To correct, shape the mouth for /ɔː/ (US /oʊ/) with a relaxed jaw and open-mid back vowel, then smoothly voice the final /z/ by lightly vibrating the vocal cords. Ensure you don’t aspirate before the /z/; let it flow from the vowel into a connected voiced fricative.
In US English, /koʊz/ with a diphthong /oʊ/ and a voiced /z/. UK English often uses /kɔːz/ with a longer monophthong /ɔː/ and a clearly voiced /z/. Australian English tends toward /kɔːz/ or /koːz/ with a small fronting of the vowel and a robust /z/; some speakers may have a slightly softer or less rhotic vowel depending on regional variation. Across all, the final /z/ remains voiced; the main difference is vowel quality and length.
Because the word hinges on a single syllable that must transition smoothly from a rounded back vowel to a voiced fricative, the challenge is maintaining the voicing through the /z/ while avoiding an unvoiced /s/ or an aspirated stop. Also, non-native speakers may misinterpret the /ɔː/ vs /oʊ/ diphthong, causing misplacement of the tongue and jaw. Practice precise mouth opening and vocal fold engagement to keep the final /z/ clearly voiced.
The critical, unique feature is the final /z/ consonant after a long back vowel; the contrast between /z/ and an unvoiced /s/ is a common source of error, especially in rapid speech. You’ll often see it in connected speech as /koʊz/ or /kɔːz/; keep the tongue relaxed, tip of the tongue near the alveolar ridge, and ensure your vocal folds vibrate equally through the vowel and the final fricative.
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