Final cause

Final cause
Final Fi"nal (f[imac]"nal), a. [F., fr. L. finalis, fr. finis boundary, limit, end. See {Finish}.] 1. Pertaining to the end or conclusion; last; terminating; ultimate; as, the final day of a school term. [1913 Webster]

Yet despair not of his final pardon. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

2. Conclusive; decisive; as, a final judgment; the battle of Waterloo brought the contest to a final issue. [1913 Webster]

3. Respecting an end or object to be gained; respecting the purpose or ultimate end in view. [1913 Webster]

{Final cause}. See under {Cause}.

Syn: {Final}, {Conclusive}, {Ultimate}.

Usage: Final is now appropriated to that which brings with it an end; as, a final adjustment; the final judgment, etc. Conclusive implies the closing of all discussion, negotiation, etc.; as, a conclusive argument or fact; a conclusive arrangement. In using ultimate, we have always reference to something earlier or proceeding; as when we say, a temporary reverse may lead to an ultimate triumph. The statements which a man finally makes at the close of a negotiation are usually conclusive as to his ultimate intentions and designs. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Final cause — Cause Cause (k[add]z), n. [F. cause, fr. L. causa. Cf. {Cause}, v., {Kickshaw}.] 1. That which produces or effects a result; that from which anything proceeds, and without which it would not exist. [1913 Webster] Cause is substance exerting its… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • final cause — index object, purpose Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • final cause — Aristotelianism. See under cause (def. 8b). [1350 1400] * * * …   Universalium

  • final cause — See causes …   Philosophy dictionary

  • FINAL CAUSE —    the end REASON for a process, as the purpose which GOD had in mind in CREATING the UNIVERSE …   Concise dictionary of Religion

  • final cause — noun Philosophy the purpose of an action or the end towards which a thing naturally develops …   English new terms dictionary

  • final cause — End, aim, object, purpose, design, intent, intention …   New dictionary of synonyms

  • final cause — noun (philosophy) the end or purpose of a thing or process • Topics: ↑philosophy • Hypernyms: ↑purpose, ↑intent, ↑intention, ↑aim, ↑design …   Useful english dictionary

  • final causation — final cause …   Philosophy dictionary

  • Cause — • Cause, as the correlative of effect, is understood as being that which in any way gives existence to, or contributes towards the existence of, any thing; which produces a result; to which the origin of any thing is to be ascribed Catholic… …   Catholic encyclopedia

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