causa sine qua non

American  

[kou-sah si-ne kwah nohn, kaw-zuh sahy-nee kwey non, kaw-zuh sin-ey kwah nohn] / ˈkaʊ sɑ ˈsɪ nɛ kwɑ ˈnoʊn, ˈkɔ zə ˈsaɪ ni kweɪ ˈnɒn, ˈkɔ zə ˈsɪn eɪ kwɑ ˈnoʊn /

noun

Latin.

1. an indispensable condition; requisite.

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Etymology

Origin of causa sine qua non

Literally, “a cause without which not”

Example Sentences

For the same reason Flacius objected to the phrase that good works are necessary as causa sine qua non.

From Historical Introductions to the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church by Bente, F. (Friedrich)

Concerning the word "faith," 1549, Flacius, for example had said that our effort to obey God might be called a "causa sine qua non, or something which serves salvation."

From Historical Introductions to the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church by Bente, F. (Friedrich)

And in this sense his purpose was causa sine qua non, a cause without which any given event would not have happened, and therefore could not have been foreseen as certain.

From Calvinistic Controversy Embracing a Sermon on Predestination and Election and Several Numbers, Formally Published in the Christian Advocate and Journal. by Fisk, Wilbur

But when his attention was called to this passage, he first eliminated the causa sine qua non and substituted ad vitam aeternam for ad salutem, and afterwards changed this phrase into ad veram pietatem.

From Historical Introductions to the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church by Bente, F. (Friedrich)