Full Idea
Traditionally (before Leibniz and Spinoza) the world 'cause' signified any valid explanation.
Gist of Idea
'Cause' used to just mean any valid explanation
Source
Roger Scruton (Modern Philosophy:introduction and survey [1994], 14)
Book Reference
Scruton,Roger: 'Modern Philosophy: introduction and survey' [Sinclair-Stevenson 1994], p.173