caussor

causor ( causs- ), ātus, 1, v. n. and 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. —

(β).

Absol.:

causando nostros in longum ducis amores,

Verg. E. 9, 56.—

(γ).

With acc. [p. 305] and inf., Liv. 5, 15, 6; 28, 35, 2; Tib. 1, 3, 17; Suet. Ner. 49; Curt. 6, 5, 31; Gell. 18, 4, 9. —

(δ).

With quod:

causatus in utroque, quod hic non esset secutus, etc.,

Suet. Calig. 23; Dig. 16, 3, 3.—

(ε).

With inf.:

causari accipere rationes,

to avoid by a pretence, Dig. 40, 7, 34, § 1.