Reason, motive, occasion; = encheason, n.

Occasion, cause, reason, motive.

A ground or occasion of complaint with (also against, †to) a person, leading to hostile feeling, words, or action; a reason for having, or cause…

A condition of things, an occurrence, fact, or consideration, giving grounds for an action or a state of mind or feeling; a (good or adequate)…

Originally: (the rising of the sea at) a high tide. In later use spec.: a tide, esp. a high tide, occurring shortly after the full or new moon and…

A circumstance or external factor inducing a person to act in a certain way; a desire, emotion, reason, argument, etc., influencing or tending to…

A motive, a reason; a ground or cause of action; a provocation. Obsolete.

figurative and in figurative contexts. That which causes, impels, or inspires action; an instigating cause, agency, or force; a motive. Cf. mainspring…

Chiefly in plural. A matter for consideration; a fact or motive which assists in, or leads to, the making of a decision; an end, an aim; a concern…

A thing or circumstance looked to, or taken into account, in determining action; a consideration; a motive. Chiefly in plural. Obsolete.

A cause of or motive for action; a decisive or determining influence; a determining argument or consideration. Obsolete.

A thing that moves or is moved.

A reason or ground for suspicion, or for some opinion. Obsolete.

intransitive. figurative. To work, function, operate; what makes (someone) tick, what motivates (a person). colloquial.