■ conjunction for the reason that; since.
Phrases
~ of by reason of.
Origin
ME: from the phr. by cause , influenced by OFr. par cause de 'by reason of'.
Usage
When ~ follows a negative construction the meaning can be ambiguous. In the sentence he did not go ~ he was ill , for example, it is not clear whether it means either ‘the reason he did not go was that he was ill’ or ‘being ill wasn't the reason for him going; there was another reason’. Use a comma when the first interpretation is intended ( he did not go, ~ he was ill ), or avoid using ~ after a negative altogether.
On the construction the reason … is ~ , see usage at reason .