English
because
Because comes from Middle English bi cause ‘by cause’, a compound of bi ‘by’ and cause, modelled on Old French par cause.
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500bi cause‘by cause’
- Englishearliest quotation 1611because
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500bi cause‘by cause’
- Englishearliest quotation 1611because
Earliest quotation: 1611, The Holy Bible, London: […] Robert Barker: “And God blessed the seuenth day, and sanctified it:…”
Linked words
through Old Latin caussa
through Latin causa ‘cause, reason’
chest, chose, accusation, accuse, syllabus, inexcusable, causal, accusative, excusable, causative, 23 more
Today it means
conj By or for the cause that; on this account that; for the reason that.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Middle English bi cause / because