| proximate cause | The immediate cause that precipitates a condition. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| proximate | Nearest; next immediately preceding or following. "Proximate ancestors." "The proximate natural causes of it [the deluge]" (T. <medicine> Burnet) Proximate analysis, one of a class of bodies existing ready formed in animal and vegetable tissues, and separable by chemical analysis, as albumin, sugar, collagen, fat, etc. Synonym: Nearest, next, closest, immediate, direct. Origin: L. Proximatus, p. P. Of proximare to come near, to approach, fr. Proximus the nearest, nest, superl. Of propior nearer, and prope, adv, near. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| proximate analysis | An analysis which reports volatile matter, fixed carbon, moisture content, and ash present in a fuel as a percentage of dry fuel weight. (05 Dec 1998) |
| proximate principle | In chemistry, an organic compound that may exist already formed as a part of some other more complex substance (e.g., various sugars, starches, and albumins). Synonym: organic principle. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cause | That which produces an effect or condition; that by which a morbid change or disease is brought about. Origin: L. Causa (05 Mar 2000) |
| cause of death | Factors which produce cessation of all vital bodily functions. They can be analyzed from an epidemiologic viewpoint. (12 Dec 1998) |
| plaque and tartar cause | (12 Dec 1998) |
| constitutional cause | A cause acting from within or through some systemic process or inborn error. (05 Mar 2000) |
| precipitating cause | A factor that brings on the onset of manifestations of a disease process. (05 Mar 2000) |
| predisposing cause | Anything that produces a susceptibility or disposition to a condition without actually causing it. (05 Mar 2000) |
| specific cause | A cause the action of which definitely produces the condition in question. (05 Mar 2000) |
| necessary cause | An aetiological factor without which a result in question will not occur; the occurrence of the result is proof that the factor is operating. (05 Mar 2000) |
| sufficient cause | An aetiological factor that guarantees that a result in question will occur; non-occurrence of the result is proof that the factor is not operating. (05 Mar 2000) |
| exciting cause | The direct provoking cause of a condition. Synonym: procatarxis. (05 Mar 2000) |