An obsolete form meaning to give a reason or cause for something; to explain or justify.
From Old French 'enchaison,' combining 'en-' and 'chaison' (reason, cause), from Latin 'causa.' The word fell out of use as 'reason' and 'explain' became standard.
Middle English had multiple near-synonyms for 'explain' that competed for dominance—'encheason' lost to simpler words, showing how language naturally selects the most efficient terms.
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