Be*cause" (&?;), conj. [OE. bycause;
by + cause.]
1. By or for the cause
that; on this account that; for the
reason that.
Milton.
2. In order that; that. [Obs.]
And the multitude rebuked them because they should hold their peace.
Matt. xx. 31.
Because of, by reason of,
on account of. [Prep. phrase.]
Because of these things cometh the wrath of
God upon the children of disobedience.
Eph.
v. 6.
Syn. -- Because,
For, Since, As, Inasmuch As. These particles are used, in certain connections, to assign the reason of a
thing, or that "on account of" which it is or takes place. Because (by cause) is the
strongest and most emphatic; as, I hid myself
because I was afraid. For is not
quite so strong; as, in
Shakespeare, "I hate him, for he is a Christian." Since is less formal and more incidental than because; as, I will do it since you request me. It more commonly begins a sentence; as, Since your decision is made, I will say no more.
As is still more incidental than since, and points to some existing fact by way of assigning a reason. Thus we say, as
I knew him to be out of town, I did not call.
Inasmuch as seems to carry with
it a kind of qualification which does not belong to
the rest. Thus, if we say, I am ready to accept your proposal, inasmuch as I believe it is
the best you can offer, we mean, it is only with this understanding that we can accept it.
Hear it pronounced