I.trans. [causa].
I. In the ante-class. per., to plead, dispute concerning a subject, to discuss it for and against, to debate a question, Pac., Att., and Afran. ap. Non. p. 89, 11 sq.—
II. Since the Aug. per. (in Ciceronian Lat. the word is not used), to give as a reason (a real, and more freq. a feigned one) for something, to make a pretext of, to pretend, to plead.
(α).
With acc.: “multa,” Lucr. 1, 398: “aves aut omina dira,” Tib. 1, 3, 17 sq.: “omina Visaque,” Ov. M. 9, 768: “nec freta pressurus tumidos causabitur Euros,” id. Am. 1, 9, 13: stultus uterque locum immeritum causatur inique: in culpā est animus. Hor. Ep. 1, 14, 12: “ipse valetudinem excusans, patre animi quoque ejus haud mirabilem interturbationem causante,” Liv. 23, 8, 7; 3, 64, 2; 36, 10, 13: “negotia,” Tac. A. 1, 47 fin.: “valetudinem,” id. H. 3, 59 fin.: “adversam patris voluntatem,” id. A. 13, 44: “diei tempus,” Curt. 4, 16, 18 al.—
(γ).
With acc. and inf., Liv. 5, 15, 6; 28, 35, 2; Tib. 1, 3, 17; Suet. Ner. 49; Curt. 6, 5, 31; Gell. 18, 4, 9. —
