inception, origination, origin - an event that is a beginning; a first part or stage of subsequent events

antecedent - a preceding occurrence or cause or event

aetiology, etiology - the cause of a disease

factor - anything that contributes causally to a result; "a number of factors determined the outcome"

producer - something that produces; "Maine is a leading producer of potatoes"; "this microorganism is a producer of disease"

mutagenesis - an event capable of causing a mutation

justification - a statement in explanation of some action or belief

venture - any venturesome undertaking especially one with an uncertain outcome

ad blitz, ad campaign, advertising campaign - an organized program of advertisements

anti-war movement - a campaign against entering or continuing a war

consumerism - a movement advocating greater protection of the interests of consumers

campaigning, candidacy, candidature, electioneering, political campaign - the campaign of a candidate to be elected

ecumenical movement - a movement among Protestant groups aimed at universal Christian unity

fund-raising campaign, fund-raising drive, fund-raising effort - a campaign to raise money for some cause

feminist movement, women's lib, women's liberation movement, feminism - the movement aimed at equal rights for women

gay lib, gay liberation movement - the movement aimed at liberating homosexuals from legal or social or economic oppression

lost cause - a defeated cause or a cause for which defeat is inevitable

reform - a campaign aimed to correct abuses or malpractices; "the reforms he proposed were too radical for the politicians"

war - a concerted campaign to end something that is injurious; "the war on poverty"; "the war against crime"

youth crusade, youth movement - political or religious or social reform movement or agitation consisting chiefly of young people

entity - that which is perceived or known or inferred to have its own distinct existence (living or nonliving)

human, individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul - a human being; "there was too much for one person to do"

agent - an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect; "their research uncovered new disease agents"

nature - a causal agent creating and controlling things in the universe; "the laws of nature"; "nature has seen to it that men are stronger than women"

occult, supernatural - supernatural forces and events and beings collectively; "She doesn't believe in the supernatural"

first cause, prime mover, primum mobile - a self-caused agent that is the cause of all things; "God is the first cause"

Destiny, Fate - the ultimate agency that predetermines the course of events (often personified as a woman); "we are helpless in the face of Destiny"

catalyst - something that causes an important event to happen; "the invasion acted as a catalyst to unite the country"

deus ex machina - any active agent who appears unexpectedly to solve and insoluble difficulty

manipulator, operator - an agent that operates some apparatus or machine; "the operator of the switchboard"

force, power - one possessing or exercising power or influence or authority; "the mysterious presence of an evil power"; "may the force be with you"; "the forces of evil"

life principle, vital principle - a hypothetical force to which the functions and qualities peculiar to living things are sometimes ascribed

engine - something used to achieve a purpose; "an engine of change"

cause of death, killer - the causal agent resulting in death; "heart disease is the biggest killer in the United States"

danger - a cause of pain or injury or loss; "he feared the dangers of traveling by air"

agent - a substance that exerts some force or effect

civil suit - a lawsuit alleging violations of civil law by the defendant

class action, class-action suit - a lawsuit brought by a representative member of a large group of people on behalf of all members of the group

countersuit - a suit brought against someone who has sued you

criminal suit - a lawsuit alleging violations of criminal law by the defendant

moot - a hypothetical case that law students argue as an exercise; "he organized the weekly moot"

bastardy proceeding, paternity suit - a lawsuit filed to determine the father of a child born out of wedlock (and to provide for the support of the child once paternity is determined)

legal proceeding, proceeding, proceedings - (law) the institution of a sequence of steps by which legal judgments are invoked

jurisprudence, law - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order"

shape, determine, influence, regulate, mold - shape or influence; give direction to; "experience often determines ability"; "mold public opinion"

create, make - make or cause to be or to become; "make a mess in one's office"; "create a furor"

initiate, pioneer - take the lead or initiative in; participate in the development of; "This South African surgeon pioneered heart transplants"

bring about, effect, effectuate, set up - produce; "The scientists set up a shockwave"

make - compel or make somebody or something to act in a certain way; "People cannot be made to integrate just by passing a law!"; "Heat makes you sweat"

occasion - give occasion to

call forth, evoke, kick up, provoke - call forth; "Her behavior provoked a quarrel between the couple"

breed, engender, spawn - call forth

incite, motivate, prompt, propel, actuate, move - give an incentive for action; "This moved me to sacrifice my career"

impel, force - urge or force (a person) to an action; constrain or motivate

facilitate - physiology: increase the likelihood of (a response); "The stimulus facilitates a delayed impulse"

decide - cause to decide; "This new development finally decided me!"

persuade - cause somebody to adopt a certain position, belief, or course of action; twist somebody's arm; "You can't persuade me to buy this ugly vase!"

bring - induce or persuade; "The confession of one of the accused brought the others to admit to the crime as well"

solicit - incite, move, or persuade to some act of lawlessness or insubordination; "He was accused of soliciting his colleagues to destroy the documents"

encourage - spur on; "His financial success encouraged him to look for a wife"

let - actively cause something to happen; "I let it be known that I was not interested"

lead - cause to undertake a certain action; "Her greed led her to forge the checks"

instigate, prompt, inspire - serve as the inciting cause of; "She prompted me to call my relatives"

suborn - induce to commit perjury or give false testimony; "The President tried to suborn false witnesses"

compel, obligate, oblige - force or compel somebody to do something; "We compel all students to fill out this form"