final cause see under final

first cause

The original cause or creator of all, God

formal cause

The essence or idea of a thing

have or show cause

To have to give reasons for a certain line of action

hour of cause (Scots law; historical)

Hour or time of trial

make common cause

(often with with) to unite for a common object

material cause

That out of which a thing is framed

natural causes

Causes (of death) such as old age or disease, as opposed to violence or accident

occasional causes see under occasion

secondary causes

Causes derived from a primary or first cause

show cause (Eng law)

To argue against the confirmation of a provisional order or judgement

final /fīˈnl/

1. Last
2. Decisive or conclusive
3. Relating to or constituting an end or motive
4. (of a judgement) ready for execution

1. The last of a series (eg of letters in a word, games in a contest, examinations in a curriculum, etc)
2. In the old church modes, the keynote or tonic, the lowest note in the authentic modes, a fourth above it in the plagal
3. (in pl) final examinations
4. (in pl) the deciding rounds of a sports competition
5. (in pl) final approach (informal; aeronautics)

fīˈnalism noun (philosophy)

1. Teleology, interpretation in terms of purpose
2. Belief that an end has been reached

fīˈnalist noun

1. A person who reaches the final stage in a competition
2. A student taking his or her final examinations
3. A teleologist (philosophy)
4. A person who believes that finality has been reached (philosophy)

fīnality /-alˈi-ti/ noun

1. The state of being final
2. Completeness or conclusiveness
3. A final or conclusive act
4. The principle of final cause (philosophy)
5. That which is final

fīˈnalize or fīˈnalise transitive verb

1. To complete a commercial agreement, transaction, etc
2. To decide on the definitive version of
3. To put the finishing touches to
4. To put an end to completely

fīˈnally adverb

final approach noun (aeronautics)

The part of the landing procedure from when the aircraft turns into line with the runway until the flare-out is started (informal fīˈnals)

final cause noun (philosophy)

The end or objective for which a thing is done, esp the design of the universe

final demand or final notice noun

A last bill rendered before legal action is taken to recover a debt

the final solution (historical)

The English version of the name (Ger Endlösung) for the German Nazi policy and process, from 1941, of exterminating European Jews