Causes and reasons

A cause is a reason for something. It is the answer to the questions 'Why did it happen?' or 'Why was it like that?' For example:

    Why did Duke William invade England in 1066?

Often, there is more than one answer to the question Why?

There are a number of causes or reasons for most things.

Walter Robson: Medieval Britain; Oxford University Press, 1991/2000, page 19