N. attribution, theory, etiology, ascription, reference to, rationale, accounting for, palætiology, imputation, derivation from, filiation, affiliation, pedigree, explanation, reason why

V. attribute to, ascribe to, impute to, refer to, lay to, point to, trace to, bring home to, put down to, set down to, blame, charge on, ground on, invest with, assign as cause, lay at, the door of, father upon, account for, derive from, point out the reason, theorize, tell how it comes, put the saddle on the right horse

Adj. attributed, attributable, referable to, referrible to, due to, derivable from, owing to, putative, ecbatic

Adv. hence, thence, therefore, for, since, on account of, because, owing to, on that account, from this cause, from that cause, thanks to, forasmuch as, whence, propter hoc, why? wherefore? whence? how comes it, how is it, how happens it? how does it happen? in some way, in some such way, somehow, somehow or other

Phr. that is why, hinc illae lachrymae

N. instrumentality, aid, subservience, subserviency, mediation, intervention, medium, intermedium, vehicle, hand, agency, minister, handmaid, midwife, accoucheur, accoucheuse, obstetrician, gobetween, cat's-paw, stepping-stone, opener, key, master key, passkey, latchkey, "open sesame", passport, passe-partout, safe-conduct, password, instrument, expedient, means

V. subserve, minister, mediate, intervene, be instrumental, pander to, officiate, tend

Adj. instrumental, useful, ministerial, subservient, mediatorial, intermediate, intervening, conducive

Adv. through, by, per, whereby, thereby, hereby, by the agency of, by dint of, by virtue of, in virtue of, through the medium of, along with, on the shoulders of, by means of, by the aid of, with the aid of, per fas et nefas, by fair means or foul, somehow, somehow or other, by hook or by crook