cause: [13] Cause comes via Old French cause from Latin causa, which as well as ‘reason’ meant ‘law-suit’; this was carried over into English legal language (it survives in terms such as cause-list ‘list of cases to be tried’) and its use in expressions like ‘plead someone’s cause’ led in the late 16th century to a more general application ‘goal or principle pursued or supported’. French chose ‘thing’ also comes from Latin causa, in the weakened sense ‘matter, subject’. => excuse
cause (n.)
c. 1200, "reason for action, grounds for action; motive," from Old French cause "cause, reason; lawsuit, case in law" (12c.), and directly from Latin causa "a cause; a reason; interest; judicial process, lawsuit," which is of unknown origin. In English, sense of "matter of concern; side taken in controversy" is from c. 1300; that of "the source of an effect" is early 14c.; meaning "reason for something taking place" is late 14c. Cause célèbre "celebrated legal case" is 1763, from French. Cause why? "for what reason?" is in Chaucer.
cause (v.)
late 14c., "produce an effect," also "impel, compel," from Old French causer "to cause" (13c.) and directly from Medieval Latin causare, from Latin causa "a cause; a reason; interest; judicial process, lawsuit," which is of unknown origin. Related: Caused; causing. Classical Latin causari meant "to plead, to debate a question."
例文
1. His misunderstanding of language was the primary cause of his other problems.
彼の言語に対する誤解は、他の問題を引き起こす主な原因である。
2.Accidents are still the number one cause of premature death for Americans.
交通事故は依然として米国人の早期死亡の第一因子である。
3.Investment could dry up and that could cause the economy to falter.
投資が中断する可能性があり、景気後退を引き起こす可能性があります。
4.This was a genuine mistake，but it did cause me some worry.
これは好意的に間違ったことをしたが、確かにしばらく心配させられた。
5.Premature birth is the main cause of perinatal mortality.