Obs. Forms: 3–5 cheson, -un, -oun, (4 -iun), 5 -oune, -owne, chesen, 6 Sc. chasoun, chessoun. [Aphetic form of ACHESOUN, ENCHESOUN.]
1. Occasion, cause, reason.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 3905. He was þe chesun of hir fine, Of him sco deid in gesine.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 129. Þe Kyng for þat cheson wrathed with Thomas.
c. 1340. Hampole, Prose Tr. (1866), 10. Here es forbodene athe withowttene cheson.
1382. Wyclif, 1 Kings xxi. 29. For he is mekid bi chesoun of me [1388 for the cause of me].
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 73. Chesun, or cawse [1499 chesen], causa [1499 occasio].
c. 1480. J. Walton, Spec. Chr., in Monk of Evesham (Arb.), 6. And why this Cite destroied was Fals and coueitous men grete cheson was.
2. A cause or occasion of offence; ground of complaint; complaint, charge or accusation; in Sc. objection, exception, demur.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 10536 (Gött.). Ne sal na womman wid right resun Agaynes hir haue nan ille chesun.
c. 1425. Seven Sag. (P.), 680. Anothir cheson I have goode.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 711. The lordis … maid him tutour with thair haill consent, Into that tyme without debait or chasoun.
a. 1548. Priests of Peblis (Jam.). To that I can, nor na man, have chessoun.
1560. Rolland, Crt. Venus, IV. 316. All hir sawis they ratifeit but chessoun.
3. Case, condition.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 2072. Þan hure spak þat burde briȝt: herknyaþ my chesoun.
c. 1450. Guy Warw. (C.), 4314. I may not telle, be my crowne, To no wyght my chesowne.
