'Material cause' definitions:

Definition of 'Material cause'

From: GCIDE
  • Material \Ma*te"ri*al\, a. [L. materialis, fr. materia stuff, matter: cf. F. mat['e]riel. See Matter, and cf. Mat['e]riel.] [1913 Webster]
  • 1. Consisting of matter; not spiritual; corporeal; physical; as, material substance or bodies. [1913 Webster]
  • The material elements of the universe. --Whewell. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Hence: Pertaining to, or affecting, the physical nature of man, as distinguished from the mental or moral nature; relating to the bodily wants, interests, and comforts; as, material well-being; material comforts. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Of solid or weighty character; not insubstantial; of consequence; not be dispensed with; important; significant. [1913 Webster]
  • Discourse, which was always material, never trifling. --Evelyn. [1913 Webster]
  • I shall, in the account of simple ideas, set down only such as are most material to our present purpose. --Locke. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. (Logic.) Pertaining to the matter, as opposed to the form, of a thing. See Matter. [1913 Webster]
  • Material cause. See under Cause.
  • Material evidence (Law), evidence which conduces to the proof or disproof of a relevant hypothesis. --Wharton. [1913 Webster]
  • Syn: Corporeal; bodily; important; weighty; momentous; essential. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Material cause'

From: GCIDE
  • Cause \Cause\ (k[add]z), n. [F. cause, fr. L. causa. Cf. Cause, v., Kickshaw.]
  • 1. That which produces or effects a result; that from which anything proceeds, and without which it would not exist. [1913 Webster]
  • Cause is substance exerting its power into act, to make one thing begin to be. --Locke. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. That which is the occasion of an action or state; ground; reason; motive; as, cause for rejoicing. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Sake; interest; advantage. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • I did it not for his cause. --2 Cor. vii. 12. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. (Law) A suit or action in court; any legal process by which a party endeavors to obtain his claim, or what he regards as his right; case; ground of action. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. Any subject of discussion or debate; matter; question; affair in general. [1913 Webster]
  • What counsel give you in this weighty cause! --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. The side of a question, which is espoused, advocated, and upheld by a person or party; a principle which is advocated; that which a person or party seeks to attain. [1913 Webster]
  • God befriend us, as our cause is just. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • The part they take against me is from zeal to the cause. --Burke. [1913 Webster]
  • Efficient cause, the agent or force that produces a change or result.
  • Final cause, the end, design, or object, for which anything is done.
  • Formal cause, the elements of a conception which make the conception or the thing conceived to be what it is; or the idea viewed as a formative principle and cooperating with the matter.
  • Material cause, that of which anything is made.
  • Proximate cause. See under Proximate.
  • To make common cause with, to join with in purposes and aims. --Macaulay.
  • Syn: Origin; source; mainspring; motive; reason; incitement; inducement; purpose; object; suit; action. [1913 Webster]