cause

any entity that produces an effect or is responsible for events or results

give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally

“cause a commotion”

a comprehensive term for any proceeding in a court of law whereby an individual seeks a legal remedy

cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner

a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end

“they worked in the cause of world peace”

a justification for something existing or happening

“he had no cause to complain”

events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something

“they are trying to determine the cause of the crash”