Etymology dictionary
catechize (v.) — cavern (n.)
catechize (v.)
"instruct orally by asking questions and receiving answers" (and offering explanations and corrections), especially "to instruct on Christian doctrine," early 15c., from Church Latin catechizare "to teach by word of mouth" (also source of French catéchiser, Spanish catequizar, Italian catechizzare), from Greek katēkhizein "teach orally, instruct by word of mouth," from katēkhein "to resound" (see catechesis). Related: Catechized; catechizing.
catechism (n.)
c. 1500, "instruction in Christian principles," also "elementary question-and-answer book of religious instruction," from French catéchisme (14c.) and directly from Church Latin catechismus "book of instruction," from Greek katēkhismos, from katēkhizein "teach orally, instruct by word of mouth," from katēkhein "to resound" (see catechesis). Related: Catechismal.
catechectic (adj.)
"consisting of questions and answers," 1660s, from Latinized form of Greek katēkhetikos, from katekhetēs "an instructor," from katēkhizein "teach orally, instruct by word of mouth," from katēkhein "to resound" (see catechesis). Related: Catechectical (1610s).
catechesis (n.)
"oral instruction, catechism," 1753, from Latinized form of Greek katēkhesis "instruction by word of mouth," from katēkhein "to instruct orally," originally "to resound" (with sense evolution via "to sound (something) in someone's ear" to "to teach by word of mouth"). This is from kata "down" (in this case, "thoroughly;" see cata-) + ēkhein "to sound, ring," from ēkhē "sound" (see echo (n.)).
catechise (v.)
chiefly British English spelling of catechize; for suffix, see -ize. Related: Catechised; catechising.
catechist (n.)
"one who instructs orally;" especially "one appointed to instruct catechumens in the principles of religion as a preparation for baptism," 1560s, from Church Latin catechista, from Greek katēkhistēs "one who catechizes," from katēkhizein "teach orally, instruct by word of mouth," from katēkhein "to resound" (see catechesis). Related: Catechistic; catechistical.
catecholamine (n.)
type of hormone, 1960, from catechol (1880), from catechu, 17c. name for an astringent substance used in medicines, dyeing, etc., which apparently is from Malay (Austronesian) kachu.
catechumen (n.)
"new convert (to Christianity)," late 14c., cathecumine, catekumeling, from Church Latin catechumenus, from Greek katēkhoumenos "one being instructed," passive present participle of katēkhein "to teach orally" (see catechesis).
categorical (adj.)
1590s, as a term in logic, "unqualified, asserting absolutely," from Late Latin categoricus, from Greek katēgorikos "accusatory, affirmative, categorical," from kategoria (see category). The general sense of "explicit, unconditional" is attested from 1610s. Categorical imperative, from the philosophy of Kant, is in English by 1827. Related: Categorically.
categorize (v.)
also categorise, "place in a category," 1705, from category + -ize. Related: Categorized; categorizing.
categorization (n.)
also categorisation, "act or process of placing in a catalogue or list," by 1866, noun of action from categorize. Perhaps influenced by French catégorisation (1845).
category (n.)
1580s, in Aristotle's logic, "a highest notion," from French catégorie, from Late Latin categoria, from Greek katēgoria "accusation, prediction, category," verbal noun from katēgorein "speak against; to accuse, assert, predicate," from kata "down to" (or perhaps "against;" see cata-) + agoreuein "to harangue, to declaim (in the assembly)," from agora "public assembly" (from PIE root *ger- "to gather").
The Greek verb's original sense of "accuse" had weakened to "assert, name" by the time Aristotle applied katēgoria to his 10 classes of "expressions that are in no way composite," perhaps "things that can be named simply." Precisely what he meant by it "has been disputed almost from his own day till the present" [OED].
The sense of "any very wide and distinctive class, any comprehensive class of persons or things" is from 1660s.
catenary (adj.)
"relating to a chain, like a chain or rope hanging freely from two fixed points," 1872, from Latin catenarius "relating to a chain," from catenanus "chained, fettered," from catena "chain, fetter, shackle" (see chain (n.)). As a noun in mathematics, "catenary curve," from 1788. Related: Catenarian.
cater (v.)
c. 1600, "provide food for," from Middle English catour (n.) "buyer of provisions" (c. 1400; late 13c. as a surname), a shortening of Anglo-French achatour "buyer" (Old North French acatour, Old French achatour, 13c., Modern French acheteur), from Old French achater "to buy," originally "to buy provisions," which is perhaps from Vulgar Latin *accaptare, from Latin ad- "to" (see ad-) + captare "to take, hold," frequentative of capere "to take" (from PIE root *kap- "to grasp").
Or else from Vulgar Latin *accapitare "to add to one's capital," with second element from verbal stem of Latin caput (genitive capitis); see capital (adj.). Related: Catered; catering. Figuratively, "act as a purveyor," from 1650s.
Likely formed from the verb in English were caterie "department of a house that procured and managed meat, fish, etc." (mid-15c.); cates (n.) "foodstuffs, provisions" (late 15c.).
caterer (n.)
"provider of food or provisions," mid-15c., earlier simply cater (see cater (v.)). With redundant -er (compare poulterer, sorcerer, upholsterer).
caterpillar (n.)
"larva of a butterfly or moth," mid-15c., catyrpel, probably altered (by association with Middle English piller "plunderer;" see pillage (n.)) from Old North French caterpilose "caterpillar" (Old French chatepelose), literally "shaggy cat" (probably in reference to the "wooly-bear" variety), from Late Latin catta pilosa, from catta "cat" (see cat (n.)) + pilosus "hairy, shaggy, covered with hair," from pilus "hair" (see pile (n.3)).
Compare also French chenille "caterpillar," literally "little dog." A Swiss German name for it is teufelskatz "devil's cat." "The caterpillar has in many idioms received the name of other animals" [Kitchin, who cites also Milanese cagnon "little dog," Italian dialectal gattola "little cat," Kentish hop-dog, hop-cat, Portuguese lagarta "lizard."] Compare also American English wooly-bear for the hairy variety. An Old English name for it was cawelworm "cole-worm." Caterpillar tractor, one which travels on endless steel belts, is from 1908, so called from its way of moving.
caterwaul (v.)
"make a disagreeable howling or screeching," like that of a cat in heat, late 14c., caterwrawen, perhaps from Low German katerwaulen "cry like a cat," or else formed in English from cater, from Middle Dutch cater "tomcat" + Middle English waul "to yowl," which is apparently from Old English *wrag, *wrah "angry," a word of uncertain origin but somehow imitative. The first element is, in some language, cat (n.). Related: Caterwauled; caterwauling. As a noun from 1708.
catfish (n.)
also cat-fish, name given to various types of fish, 1610s, originally probably in reference to the Atlantic wolf-fish, in reference to its ferocity, from cat (n.) + fish (n.).
The North American freshwater fish was so called by 1690s, probably for its "whiskers," or for the purring noise it is said to make when taken from the water. Greek had glanis, glaneos "catfish," in reference to the only European species (the Latin silurus, in English generally sheatfish), found north of the Alps, and the largest European fish other than the sturgeon. The name is based on glanos "hyena," the fish being "thus called because of its voracity and the sound it makes" [Beekes]. Compare dogfish. The ancients thought them sensitive to thunder and able to predict earthquakes and told of catching them of such size they had to be hauled ashore by oxen.
catfish (v.)
"assume a fake persona on social media for the purpose of deceiving or attracting another person," by 2013, from the successful 2010 film "Catfish," concerning such an experience, and especially the subsequent TV show of the same name which aired from 2012 on MTV.
The film takes its title from an anecdote of fishermen putting a catfish in the tank with a shipment of live cod to keep the cod active in transit and tastier at the table. The anecdote, though attractive to sermonizers, seems to have no basis in reality. It sometimes is traced to a 1988 sermon by evangelical pastor Charles R. Swindoll, but it has been used in sermons since the 1920s and the anecdote seems to have appeared first in print in two popular publications of 1913: Henry W. Nevinson's "The Catfish," in "Essays in Rebellion," and Charles Marriott's novel "The Catfish," in which it is a symbol for a woman who keeps a man active.
Publisher's Weekly (June 7, 1913) write in its review of the novel that "The story deals with the influence which one woman may exert over one man when man and woman meet in their quickest sympathy of mind and heart and instinct." Related: Catfishing; catfished.
catgut (n.)
"dried, twisted intestines used for strings of musical instruments," 1590s, perhaps altered from *kitgut, and from obsolete kit (n.2) "fiddle" + gut (n.). It was made from the intestines of sheep, not cats.
Cathay (n.)
1560s, poetic name for "China," from Medieval Latin Cataya, from Turkish Khitai, from Uighur (Turkic) Khitai, name of a Tatar dynasty that ruled Beijing 936-1122.
Cathar (n.)
1570s, "religious puritan" (implied in Catharism), from Medieval Latin Cathari "the Pure," name taken by Novatians and other Christian sects, from New Testament Greek katharizein "to make clean," from Greek katharos "pure" (see catharsis). Especially in reference to the 12c. sects (Albigenses, etc.) in Languedoc and the Piedmont that denied the authority of Rome. Related: Catharist.
catharsis (n.)
1770, "a bodily purging" (especially of the bowels), from Latinized form of Greek katharsis "purging, cleansing," from stem of kathairein "to purify, purge," from katharos "pure, clear of dirt, clean, spotless; open, free; clear of shame or guilt; purified" (with most of the extended senses now found in Modern English clear, clean, pure), which is of unknown origin.
Originally medical in English; of emotions, "a purging through vicarious experience," from 1872; psychotherapy sense first recorded 1909, in Brill's translation of Freud's "Selected Papers on Hysteria."
cathartic (adj.)
1610s, of medicines, "purgative, purifying," from Latin catharticus, from Greek kathartikos "fit for cleansing, purgative," from katharsis "purging, cleansing" (see catharsis). General sense is from 1670s. Related: Cathartical.
cat-head (n.)
"beam projecting from each side of the bows of a ship to hold the anchor away from the body of the ship," 1620s, from cat (n.) in some obscure sense + head (n.).
cathected (adj.)
1927, in psychoanalysis jargon, "charged with mental energy, emotionally loaded," a back-formation from cathectic "invested with emotional energy" (1927), which is from Latinized form of Greek kathektikos, from kathexis "holding, retention" (see cathexis).
cathedral (n.)
1580s, "church of a bishop," from phrase cathedral church (c. 1300) "principal church of a diocese," a phrase partially translating Late Latin ecclesia cathedralis "church of a bishop's seat," from a specific early Christian use of classical Latin cathedra "a teacher or professor's chair," commonly "an easy chair (principally used by ladies)," also metonymically, as in cathedrae molles "luxurious women," from Greek kathedra "chair, seat, bench," also "exalted seat occupied by men of eminent rank or influence," from kata "down" (see cata-) + hedra "seat, base, chair, face of a geometric solid" (from PIE root *sed- (1) "to sit"). The Greek word was used in Old Testament and New Testament translations.
The English word was born an adjective, and attempts to force further adjectivization onto it in 17c. yielded cathedraical (1670s), cathedratic (1660s), cathedratical (1660s), after which the effort seems to have been given up.
cathedra (n.)
"seat of a bishop in his church," 1829, Latin, literally "chair" (see cathedral).
Catherine
fem. proper name, from French Catherine, from Medieval Latin Katerina, from Latin Ecaterina, from Greek Aikaterinē. The -h- was introduced 16c., probably by folk etymology from Greek katharos "pure" (see catharsis). The initial Greek vowel is preserved in Russian form Ekaterina.
As the name of a type of pear, attested from 1640s. Catherine wheel (early 13c.) originally was the spiked wheel on which St. Catherine of Alexandria (martyred 307), legendary virgin from the time of Maximinus, was tortured and thus became the patron saint of spinners. Her name day is Nov. 25; a popular saint in the Middle Ages, which accounts for the enduring popularity of the given name. It was applied from 1760 to a kind of fireworks shooting from a revolving spiral tube.
catheter (n.)
"tubular instrument inserted to draw off urine from the bladder," c. 1600, from French cathéter, from Late Latin catheter "a catheter," from Greek kathetēr "surgical catheter," literally "anything let down," from stem of kathienai "to let down, thrust in," from kata "down" (see cata-) + stem of hienai "to send" (from PIE root *ye- "to throw, impel").
Earlier was cathirum (early 15c.), directly from Medieval Latin; in this sense Middle English also had argalia, via Medieval Latin from Arabic. Related: Catheterization; catheterized; catheterizing.
cathexis (n.)
"concentration or accumulation of mental energy," 1922, from Latinized form of Greek kathexis "a holding, retention," from kata- "down" (see cata-) + ekhein "to hold, possess, retain" (from PIE root *segh- "to hold"). Used by psychologists to render Freud's (Libido)besetzung.
cathode (n.)
"negative pole of an electric current," 1834, from Latinized form of Greek kathodos "a going down, a way down," from kata "down" (see cata-) + hodos "a way, path, track, road," a word of uncertain origin (see Exodus). Proposed by the Rev. William Whewell, English polymath, and published by English chemist and physicist Michael Faraday. So called from the path the electric current was supposed to take. Related: Cathodic; cathodal. Cathode ray is attested by 1880, but the phenomenon was known from 1859; cathode ray tube is from 1905.
catholicity (n.)
1790, "Catholicism, faith or doctrines of the Catholic church," from Catholic + -ity. The meaning "quality of being inclusive or comprehensive" is by 1812.
catholic (adj.)
mid-14c., catholik, "of the doctrines of the ancient Church" (before the East/West schism), literally "universally accepted," from French catholique, from Church Latin catholicus "universal, general," from Greek katholikos, from phrase kath' holou "on the whole, in general," from kata "about" + genitive of holos "whole" (from PIE root *sol- "whole, well-kept").
Medieval Latin catholicus was practically synonymous with Christianus and meant "constituting or conforming to the church, its faith and organization" (as opposed to local sects or heresies).
With capital C-, it was applied by Protestants to the Church in Rome by c. 1554, after the Reformation began in England. The general sense of "embracing all, universal" in English is from 1550s. The meaning "not narrow-minded or bigoted" is from 1580s. The Latin word was rendered in Old English as eallgeleaflic.
Catholic (n.)
"member of the Roman Catholic church," 1560s, from Catholic (adj.).
Catholicism (n.)
"faith and practice of the Catholic church," 1610s, from Catholic + -ism.
Catiline (adj.)
resembling or pertaining to Lucius Sergius Catilina, Roman official who plotted an uprising 63 B.C.E. and was exposed by Cicero in a famous oration; taken since 1590s as a type of a reckless conspirator. The proper name originally was a diminutive of the adjective catus "sharp, shrewd, cunning."
cation (n.)
"positively charged ion," 1834, from Latinized form of Greek kation "going down," neuter present participle of katienai "to go down," from kata "down" (see cata-) + ienai "to go" (from PIE root *ei- "to go"). Proposed by the Rev. William Whewell, English polymath, and published by English physicist Michael Faraday. Compare ion.
catkin (n.)
"spike of a flowering tree or shrub (especially a willow or birch) after fruiting," 1570s, from Dutch katteken "flowering stem of willow, birch, hazel, etc.," literally "kitten," diminutive of katte "cat" (see cat (n.)). So called for their soft, furry appearance.
catling (n.)
"small cat, kitten," 1620s, from cat (n.) + diminutive suffix -ling.
cat-lap (n.)
also catlap, "thin, poor beverage (especially weak tea)," 1785; see cat (n.) + lap (v.1). The notion is "fit only to give to cats."
cat-nap (n.)
also catnap, cat's nap, "a short, light sleep," by 1823, from cat (n.) + nap (n.). A nap such as a cat takes. As a verb from 1859.
catnip (n.)
1712, American English, from cat (n.) + nip, which perhaps is a survival of Middle English nept, nepte "catnip," from Anglo French and Old English nepte "catnip," from Latin nepta, name of an aromatic herb. Middle English catmint is attested from mid-13c. So called because cats are fond of it.
catoblepas (n.)
a name given by ancient authors to some African animal (perhaps the gnu), late 14c., from Latin catoblepas, from Greek katobleps, from kato "downward" (related to cata-) + blepein "to look;" but this explanation might be ancient folk etymology.
cat-o'-nine-tails (n.)
"nine pieces of knotted cord fastened to a handle and used to flog the bare back," 1690s, probably so called in reference to its "claws." It was a legal instrument of punishment in British Navy until 1881.
catoptric (adj.)
"pertaining to mirrors or a mirror," 1774, from Latinized form of Greek katoptrikos, from katoptron "mirror," from kata "against" (see cata-) + stem of optos "seen, visible" (from PIE root *okw- "to see") + instrumental suffix -tron. Related: Catoptrics; catoptrical.
catoptromancy (n.)
"divination by means of a mirror," 1610s, from Latinized combining form of Greek katoptron "mirror" (see catoptric) + -mancy "divination by means of."
catsuit (n.)
also cat-suit, "tight-fitting full-body garment," 1958, from cat (n.) + suit (n.). Perhaps so called because suitable for slinking. Said in early publications to have been an Italian style.
catsup
see ketchup.
cattail (n.)
also cat-tail, cat's tail, type of tall, reed-like aquatic plant, mid-15c., from cat (n.) + tail (n.). So called for its long, cylindrical, furry spikes.
catty (adj.)
1886, "devious and spiteful," from cat (n.) + -y (2). Slightly earlier in this sense was cattish. The meaning "pertaining to cats" is from 1902. Related: Cattily; cattiness.
cattish (adj.)
1590s, "cat-like," from cat (n.) + -ish. From 1883 as "catty." Related: Cattishly; cattishness.
cattle (n.)
mid-13c., "property" of any kind, including money, land, or income; from Anglo-French catel "property" (Old North French catel, Old French chatel), from Medieval Latin capitale "property, stock," noun use of neuter of Latin adjective capitalis "principal, chief," literally "of the head," from caput (genitive capitis) "head" (from PIE root *kaput- "head"). Compare sense development of fee, pecuniary. Also compare chattel, which is a doublet.
in later Middle English especially "movable property, livestock" (early 14c.), including horses, sheep, asses, etc.; it began to be limited to "cows and bulls" from late 16c.
catty-cornered (adj., adv.)
"diagonally opposite," 1838, earlier cater-cornered (1835, American English), from now-obsolete cater "to set, cut, or move diagonally" (1570s), from French catre "four," from Latin quattuor (from PIE root *kwetwer- "four"). Compare carrefour. Related: Catty-corner; cattycorner.
catwalk (n.)
1874, "long, narrow footway," from cat (n.) + walk (n.); in reference to such narrowness of passage that one has to cross as a cat walks. Originally especially of ships and theatrical back-stages; application to fashion show runways is by 1942.
Caucasian (n.)
"resident or native of the Caucasus," 1843; see Caucasian (adj.). Meaning "one of the 'white' race" is from 1830.
Caucasian (adj.)
1807, of or pertaining to the Caucasus Mountains (q.v.), with -ian. Applied to the "white" race 1795 (in Latin) by German anthropologist Johann Friedrich Blumenbach (1752-1840), who in his pioneering treatise on anthropology distinguished mankind into five races: Mongolian, Ethiopian, Malay, (Native) American, and Caucasian. In the last group he included nearly all Europeans (except Lapps and Finns), Armenians, Persians, and Hindus, as well as Arabs and Jews. His attempt at division was based on physical similarities in skulls.
The word has long since been abandoned as a historical/anthropological term. Compare Aryan.
Caucasoid (adj.)
"Caucasian-like," used in old racial writings of the Ainu, etc., 1909; see Caucasian (adj.) + -oid.
Caucasus (n.)
mountain range between the Black and Caspian seas, separating Europe and the Middle East, from Latin Caucasus, from Greek kaukasis, said by Pliny ("Natural History," book six, chap. XVII) to be from a Scythian word similar to kroy-khasis, literally "(the mountain) ice-shining, white with snow." But possibly from a Pelasgian root *kau- meaning "mountain."
caucus (n.)
"private meeting of party leaders or local voters," 1763, American English (New England), perhaps from an Algonquian word caucauasu "counselor, elder, adviser" in the dialect of Virginia, or from the Caucus Club of Boston, a 1760s social and political club whose name possibly derived from Modern Greek kaukos "drinking cup." Another old guess is caulker's (meeting) [Pickering, 1816], but OED and Century Dictionary find this dismissable.
caucus (v.)
"to meet or confer in caucus," 1850, from caucus (n.), but caucusing is attested from 1788.
caudal (adj.)
"pertaining to or situated near a tail," 1660s, from Latin cauda "tail of an animal," which is of unknown origin, + -al (1).
caudate (adj.)
"having a tail," c. 1600, from Modern Latin caudatus, from Latin cauda "tail of an animal," which is of unknown origin. Related: Caudation.
caudillo (n.)
dictator in Spain or Latin America, 1852, from Spanish caudillo, cabdillo "leader, chief," from Late Latin capitellum, diminutive of caput (genitive capitis) "head" (from PIE root *kaput- "head"). Originally South American; in Spain taken as a title by Franco (1938) in imitation of German Führer, Italian Duce.
caudle (n.)
kind of warm drink given to sick persons or invalids, late 13c., from Old North French caudel (Old French chaudel, 12c., Modern French chaudeau), from Medieval Latin caldellum, diminutive of caldum, neuter of Latin caldus "warm" (from PIE root *kele- (1) "warm").
caught
past tense and past participle of catch (v.), attested from 14c., predominant after c. 1800, replacing earlier catched. A rare instance of an English strong verb with a French origin. This might have been by influence of Middle English lacchen (see latch (v.)), which also then meant "to catch" and was more or less a synonym of catch (as their noun forms remain), and which then had past tense forms lahte, lauhte, laught. The influence would have happened before latch switched to its modern weak conjugation.
caul (n.)
early 14c., "close-fitting cap worn by women," from French cale "cap," back-formation from calotte, from Italian callotta, from Latin calautica "type of female headdress with pendent lappets," a foreign word of unknown origin.
The "cap" sense was the main one until 17c. Medical use, in reference to various membranes, dates to late 14c.; especially of the amnion enclosing the fetus before birth from 1540s. This, if a child was born draped in it, was supersititously supposed to betoken prosperity, give the gift of eloquence, and protect against drowning (18c. seamen paid dearly for one, and cauls were advertised for sale in British newspapers through World War I).
cauldron (n.)
"very large kettle or boiler," c. 1300, caudron, from Anglo-French caudrun, Old North French cauderon (Old French chauderon "cauldron, kettle"), from augmentative of Late Latin caldaria "cooking pot" (source of Spanish calderon, Italian calderone), from Latin calidarium "hot bath," from calidus "warm, hot" (from PIE root *kele- (1) "warm"). The -l- was inserted 15c. in imitation of Latin.
caulis (n.)
in architecture, "one of the main stalks on the second row of a Corinthian capital," 1560s, from Latin caulis "stem or stalk of a plant" (see cole (n.1)). The literal sense in English is from 1870.
cauliflower (n.)
variety of cabbage in which the young inflorescence forms a fleshy white head, 1590s, originally cole florye, from Italian cavoli fiori "flowered cabbage," plural of cavolo "cabbage" + fiore "flower" (from Latin flora, from PIE root *bhel- (3) "to thrive, bloom").
The first element is from Latin caulis "cabbage" (originally "stem, stalk;" see cole (n.1) ) which was borrowed into Germanic and is the source of the cole in cole-slaw and of Scottish kale. The front end of the word was re-Latinized from 18c.; the back end was influenced by flower (n.). The boxer's cauliflower ear, swollen and deformed by blunt trauma, is from 1907.
cauline (adj.)
"pertaining to or growing on a stem," 1756, from Latin caulis "stalk" (see cole (n.1) ). Also see -ine (1).
caulk (v.)
late 14c., "to stop up crevices or cracks," from Old North French cauquer, from Late Latin calicare "to stop up chinks with lime," from Latin calx (2) "lime, limestone" (see chalk (n.)). The original English sense is nautical, in reference to making ships watertight by driving oakum into the seams. Related: Caulked; caulking. As a noun, "caulking material," by 1980 (caulking in this sense was used from 1743). Related: Caulker.
cause (v.)
late 14c., "produce an effect," also "impel, compel," from Old French causer "to cause" (13c.) and directly from Medieval Latin causare, from Latin causa "a cause; a reason; interest; judicial process, lawsuit," which is of unknown origin. Related: Caused; causing. Classical Latin causari meant "to plead, to debate a question."
cause (n.)
c. 1200, "reason or motive for a decision, grounds for action; motive," from Old French cause "cause, reason; lawsuit, case in law" (12c.), and directly from Latin causa "a cause; a reason; interest; judicial process, lawsuit," which is of unknown origin.
From mid-14c. as "cause of an effect; source, origin." From late 14c. as "that which affords opportunity for a cause to operate, occasion;" also "reason for something taking place or for something being so; rational explanation." Also late 14c. as "proper or adequate reason, justification for an action." The sense of "matter of interest or concern; a side taken in controversy" is from c. 1300. Cause célèbre "celebrated legal case" is 1763, from French. Common cause "a shared object or aim" is by 1620s.
causative (adj.)
early 15c., causatif, "effective as a cause or agent," from Old French causatif, from Latin causativus, from causa "a cause, reason" (see cause (n.)). The meaning "expressing causation" is from c. 1600; hence the noun, in grammar, "a form of a noun or verb expressing causation" (1824).
causality (n.)
c. 1600, "that which constitutes a cause," from causal + -ity. From 1640s as "the relation of cause to effect."
causal (adj.)
1530s, in grammar and logic, "expressing a cause," from Latin causalis "relating to a cause," from causa "a cause, reason" (see cause (n.)). From 1560s as "relating to a cause or causes;" 1640s as "being a cause, producing effects."
causation (n.)
1640s, "act of causing or producing," noun of action from cause (v.), or else from Medieval Latin causationem (nominative causatio) "action of causing" (in classical Latin "excuse, pretext"), from Latin causa "a cause, reason" (see cause (n.)). The meaning "relation of cause to effect" is attested from 1739.
causeway (n.)
"road or path raised above the natural level of the ground," as a dry passage over wet places or along the top of an embankment, 1570s, from Middle English cauceweye "raised road" (mid-15c.). The first element is from Anglo-French cauce, Old North French cauciee (12c., Modern French chaussée), from Vulgar Latin *via calciata "paved way," from Latin calcis, genitive of calx (2) "limestone," or Late Latin calciare "to stamp with the heels, tread" (on the notion of a road or mound across marshy ground made firm by treading down), from Latin calx (1) "heel" (see calcaneus). For second element, see way (n.).
caustic (adj.)
c. 1400, "capable of burning or destroying organic tissue, corrosive," from Latin causticus "burning, caustic," from Greek kaustikos "capable of burning; corrosive," from kaustos "combustible; burnt," verbal adjective from kaiein, the Greek word for "to burn" (transitive and intransitive) in all periods, which is of uncertain origin with no certain cognates outside Greek.
The figurative sense of "sarcastic, severely critical" is attested from 1771. As a noun "a caustic substance," early 15c., from the adjective.
cauterize (v.)
"to burn or sear (morbid flesh) with a hot iron," c. 1400, from Old French cauterisier, from Late Latin cauterizare "to burn or brand with a hot iron," from Greek kauteriazein, from kauter "burning or branding iron," from kaiein "to burn," a word of uncertain origin. Related: Cauterized; cauterizing.
cauterization (n.)
"act of medical cauterizing," c. 1400, from Old French cauterisation (14c.) and directly from Late Latin cauterizationem (nominative cauterizatio), noun of action from past-participle stem of cauterizare "to burn or brand with a hot iron" (see cauterize).
cautery (n.)
1540s, "heated metal used for burning or searing animal tissue," from Latin cauterium "branding iron," from Greek kauterion, from kauteriazein (see cauterize). From 1570s as "a burning or searing" (by a hot iron or caustic substance).
caution (n.)
c. 1300, caucioun, "bail, guarantee, pledge," from Old French caution "security, surety" (13c.), from Latin cautionem (nominative cautio) "caution, care, foresight, precaution," noun of action from past-participle stem of cavere "to be on one's guard" (from PIE root *keu- "to see, observe, perceive").
The Latin sense re-emerged in English as "prudence in regard to danger" (1650s). The meaning "word of warning, monitory advice" is from c. 1600. The meaning "anything which excites alarm or astonishment" is U.S. slang, 1835.
caution (v.)
"warn, exhort to take heed," 1640s, from caution (n.). Related: Cautioned; cautioning.
cautionary (adj.)
"conveying a warning," 1590s, from caution (n.) + -ary.
cautious (adj.)
"careful to avoid danger or misfortune," 1640s, from caution + -ous. The Latin word for this was cautus "careful, heedful." Related: Cautiously; cautiousness.
cavalcade (n.)
"a procession, a train of persons on horseback or in carriages," 1640s, via French cavalcade (15c.), from Italian cavalcata, from cavalcare "to ride on horseback," from Vulgar Latin *caballicare (also source of Spanish cabalgada, Portuguese cavalgata), from Latin caballus (see cavalier (n.)).
Literally, "a procession on horseback;" the general sense of "a procession" of any sort is from 1660s; in 20c. -cade came to be regarded as a suffix and rode off on its own to form motorcade (1909), etc. The word's earliest use in English was in the now-obsolete sense "a horseback ride" (1590s).
cavalier (adj.)
"disdainful," by 1817, from earlier sense "easy, offhand" (1650s); originally "gallant, knightly, brave" (1640s), from cavalier (n.) in its Elizabethan senses. Related: Cavalierly.
cavalier (n.)
1580s, "a horseman," especially if armed, from Italian cavalliere "mounted soldier, knight; gentleman serving as a lady's escort," from Late Latin caballarius "horseman," from Vulgar Latin *caballus, the common Vulgar Latin word for "horse" (and source of Italian cavallo, French cheval, Spanish caballo, Irish capall, Welsh ceffyl), displacing Latin equus (from PIE root *ekwo-).
In classical Latin caballus was "work horse, pack horse," sometimes, disdainfully, "hack, nag." This and Greek kaballion "workhorse," kaballes "nag" probably are loan-words, perhaps from an Anatolian language. The same source is thought to have yielded Old Church Slavonic kobyla.
The sense was extended in Elizabethan English to "a knight; a courtly gentleman," but also, pejoratively, "a swaggerer." The meaning "Royalist, adherent of Charles I" is from 1641.
cavalry (n.)
"soldiers who march and fight on horseback," 1590s, from French cavalerie (16c.), from Italian cavalleria "mounted militia," from cavaliere "mounted soldier" (see cavalier (n.)). An Old English word for it was horshere.
cavalryman (n.)
also cavalry-man, "member of a cavalry regiment, soldier who fights on horseback," 1819, from cavalry + man (n.).
cave (n.)
"a hollow place in the earth, a natural cavity of considerable size and extending more or less horizontally," early 13c., from Old French cave "a cave, vault, cellar" (12c.), from Latin cavea "hollow" (place), noun use of neuter plural of adjective cavus "hollow" (from PIE root *keue- "to swell," also "vault, hole"). It displaced Old English eorðscrafu.
cave (v.)
early 15c., caven, "to hollow something out," from cave (n.). The modern sense of "collapse in or down" is by 1707, American English, presumably from East Anglian dialectal calve "collapse, fall in and leave a hollow," which is perhaps from a Flemish word and subsequently was influenced by cave (n.). The transitive sense of "cause to collapse in or down" is by 1762. Related: Caved; caving. The figurative sense of "yield to pressure" is from 1837.
caveat (n.)
"warning, hint of caution," 1550s, Latin, literally "let him beware," third person singular present subjunctive of cavere "to beware, take heed, watch, guard against" (from PIE root *keu- "to see, observe, perceive"). The legal meaning "public warning preventing some action" is attested from 1650s.
caveat emptor
1520s, Latin, literally "let the buyer beware;" see caveat and second element of exempt (adj.).
cave-bear (n.)
Ice Age vegetarian bear of Europe and western Asia (extinct from c. 10,000 years ago), known from fossil remains found in caves, 1826; see cave (n.) + bear (n.).
cave-dweller (n.)
"prehistoric human or animal who lived in natural caves," 1857, from cave (n.) + dweller.
caveman (n.)
also cave-man, "prehistoric human dwelling in a natural cave," 1865, from cave (n.) + man (n.). Related: Cave-woman (1904).
cavendish
"softened tobacco pressed into flat cakes" for chewing or smoking, 1837, presumably from the surname Cavendish, perhaps as the name of a Virginia planter. The name is from the place in Suffolk, literally "Cafa's enclosed pasture," from proper name Cafa or Cafna.
cavern (n.)
"large, natural cave under the earth," late 14c., from Old French caverne (12c.) "cave, vault, cellar," from Late Latin caverna "cave," from Latin cavus "hollow" (from PIE root *keue- "to swell," also "vault, hole"). In Old English such a land feature might be called an eorðscræf.