Obs. 3–4. Also ancheisun, -esun, -eysone, -eaysoun. [refashioning of ACHESOUN, a. OFr. acheson, acheison:—L. occāsiōn-em, after words in a- for earlier an-, en-. This began in AFr., where anchesoun is commoner than the orig. achesoun. See also ENCHEASON, the common later form in Eng.] Occasion, cause, reason, motive.
c. 1230. Ancr. R., 158. And seið þe ancheisun hwi. Ibid., 234. Þe þridde anchesun is.
1340. Ayenb., 47. Vor be þe ancheysoun of ham byeþ uorlore manye zaules.
