† enˈcheason Obs.
Forms: 3–5 enchesun, -oun(e -own(e, 4–7 encheson(e, (4 encheison, -eyson, 5 enchesen, ? encihoson, inchessoun, 6 enchesson,) 6–7 encheason. Also anchesoun.
[a. OF. encheson, encheison, f. encheoir, lit. to fall in, hence to be in fault (whence encheement ‘instigation, cause’, Godef.). The OF. word was influenced in meaning, if indeed its formation was not actually suggested, by the earlier acheson (see achesoun):—L. occāsiōn-em occasion; the two words seem to have been entirely synonymous, acheson being more usual in continental OF., and encheson in AF. and in Eng.]
1. Occasion, cause, reason, motive.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (1724) 111 He ascode hem..for wat encheson heo come. c 1315 Shoreham Poems 120 More encheyson hadde oure levedy..blythe for to be. c 1340 Cursor M. 2237 (Fairf.) Quen we se enchesoun..we may clymbe vp and doun. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. vii. 40 Couetyse contreuede how ich myghte Be holde for holy..by þat encheison. c 1430 Henryson Mor. Fab. 83 For what enchesson this Dogs skin haue ye borne? a 1450 Le Morte Arth. 56 He made inchessoun for to abyde. c 1450 Lonelich Grail xxxix. 466 Thanne knew he wel be his owne enchesown that he was a synnere ful grette. 1579 Spenser Sheph. Cal. May 147 Thou..blamest hem much, for small encheason. 1597 Guistard & Sismond B ij, Ease, rest, and delicates, what great encheason, They give to starre a man to corage. a 1618 J. Davies Eglog. (1772) 110 Who whilom no encheson could fore-haile. 1641 Termes de la Ley 135 b, Encheson..signifies..the occasion, cause, or reason for which any thing is done. 1642 Bird Magazine of Honour 86 Upon divers encheasons and occasions. |
2. by, for encheason of: by reason of, because of.
| c 1386 Chaucer Melib. ¶627 The ydel man excuseth him..in somer by enchesoun of the grete heat. 1488 Caxton Chast. Goddes Chyld. 86 They trowen that by encheson of suche manere temptacyon they ben forgoten of her god. 1494 Fabyan vi. clxxxvi. 187 For encheson that y⊇ sayd William ayded a noble man of Pycardy. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 112 The King be encheson [margin, Be reason, or because], that the overlord is within his waird, afterward giues that land to any man as escheit. |