because

English Online Dictionary. What means because‎? What does because mean?

English

Alternative forms

• (obsolete) bycause, (dialectal) becos
• (slang) 'cause, cos, cuz, coz, 'cos, 'cuz, 'coz, b/c, bc, bcos, bcoz, bcs, bcz, bcus
• (logic) ∵

Etymology

From Middle English bi cause, from bi (“by”) + cause, modelled on Old French par cause.

Pronunciation

• (stressed)
  • (UK) IPA^(key): /bɪˈkɒz/, /bɪˈkʌz/, (dated) /bɪˈkɔːz/, /bɪˈkɔːs/
  • (US) IPA^(key): /biˈkɔz/, /biˈkʌz/, /bəˈkɔz/, /bəˈkʌz/, /bɪˈkɔz/, /bɪˈkʌz/
  • (New England, obsolete) IPA^(key): /bɪˈkeɪz/
• (unstressed)
  • IPA^(key): /bɪkəz/
• Hyphenation: be‧cause
• Rhymes: -ɒz, -ʌz, -ɔːz, -ɔːs

Conjunction

because

1. By or for the cause that; on this account that; for the reason that.
2. As is known, inferred, or determined from the fact that.

3. (obsolete) So that, in order that. [15th–17th c.]

Synonyms

• (for the reason that): therefore, since, for, for that, on account of (southern slang), forthy, for sake, forwhy (obsolete), as, inasmuch as, sith (obsolete), ∵ (mathematics symbol); see also Thesaurus:because

Derived terms

Translations

Adverb

because (not comparable)

1. On account, for sake [with of].

2. (obsolete) For the reason [with that].

Derived terms

• because of
• because one can
• becauseness
• because you say so
• just because
• no because

Translations

Interjection

because

1. Used alone to refuse to provide a full answer a question begun with "why", usually taken as an anapodoton of the elided full phrase "Because I said so".

Translations

Preposition

because

1. (colloquial, Internet slang) On account of, because of. [from 20th c. or before]

Derived terms

• because reasons

References

• Bingham, Caleb (1808) “Improprieties in Pronunciation, common among the people of New-England”, in The Child's Companion; Being a Conciſe Spelling-book […] ‎^[2], 12th edition, Boston: Manning & Loring, →OCLC, page 74.
• Glossa, volume 17 (1997), page 175: cf. Emonds 1976:175 on the analysis of Modern English because as a preposition introducing a clause

French

Etymology

Borrowed from English because.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bi.koz/

Preposition

because

1. (colloquial) Synonym of à cause de (“because of”)

   La fenêtre était ouverte because la chaleur aoûtienne, si moite. ― The window was open because of the muggy August heat.