achesoun

[A.N. a chais on.] Reason, cause. Occasion. (Hearne: Glo . to Langtoft.) "And all he it dede for traisoun King to be was his achesoun ." Arthour & Merlin , p. 6. [Lat. acheta = the cicada; Gr. Ach'-e-ta, S. ἀχέτας ( achetas ) and ἀχέτα ( acheta ), fr. ἀχέτης ( achetes ) = clear-sounding: ηχέω ( échoo ) = to sound.] A genus of insects with no affinity to the Cicadas, though the etymology suggests the contrary. They belong to the order Orthoptera, and the section of it called Salt at or i a, that is, having legs adapted for leaping. It contains the well-known domestic hearth cricket ( Acheta domestic a ) and the field-cricket (A. campestris). [CRICKET, ACHETIDE.]