| 释义 |
causal, a. (n.)|ˈkɔːzəl|
[ad. L. causālis relating to a cause, f. causa cause: cf. F. causal.]
1. Of or relating to a cause or causes.
1570Billingsley Euclid xi. def. xii. 316 A causall definition geuen by the Cause efficient. 1677Gale Crt. Gentiles II. iv. 268 The independence of the Divine Essence as to al causes and causal limitation. 1858Whewell Novum Org. Renov. 121 (L.) Aiming at the formation of a causal section in each science of phenomena.
2. Of the nature of a cause: acting as a cause.
1642View of Print. Book int. Observat. 12 This peoples election..hath no causall influx..into the Regall power conveyed. 1672H. More Brief Reply 262 As being a means to this end, and, therefore, Causal thereto. 1699Burnet 39 Art. xvii. (1700) 162 The Certainty of the Prescience is not antecedent or causal, but subsequent and eventual. 1858Mansel Bampton Lect. ii. (ed. 4) 34 The condition of causal activity. 1881P. Brooks Candle of Lord 101 One supreme causal God.
3. Of the nature of cause and effect.
1656H. More Antid. Ath. iii. iii. (1712) 91 Any causal connexion betwixt those ceremonies and the ensuing Tempests. 1712Blackmore Creation 225 The links of all the causal chain. 1855H. Spencer Princ. Psychol. (1872) I. iv. vii. 463 The causal connexions among those traits were obscured by other connexions. 1856Emerson Eng. Traits, Lit. Wks. (Bohn) II. 109 That..the term cause and effect was loosely or gratuitously applied to what we know only as consecutive, not at all as causal.
4. Gram. and Logic. Expressing a cause. causal proposition: see quot. 1724.
c1530More Answ. Frith Wks. 840/2 Thoughe I woulde graunt this causale proposicion. a1638Mede Wks. i. xix. (1672) 70 A causal or conditional Conjunction. 1655W. Gurnall Chr. in Arm. i. §2 (1669) 59/1 The words are coupled to the precedent with that causal particle For. 1724Watts Logic 167 Causal propositions are, where two propositions are joined by causal particles; as, houses were not built, that they might be destroyed. 1870Jebb Sophocles' Electra (ed. 2) 8/2 τήρᾳ and χρόνῳ..are causal datives.
B. as n.
a. A causal conjunction or particle.
1530Palsgr., 148 Some [conjunctions] be causales & serve to bring in a sentence whereby the cause of a mater spoken of before is expressed. 1750Harris Hermes ii. (1786) 245 Causals subjoin causes to effects.
b. A thing implying a cause.
1652W. Sclater Civil Magist. (1653) 25 Causalls they are..casual they are not. |