Within the vicinity of, close or near with regard to time, space and relationship. A causal connection. Immediate; nearest; next in order. Proximate cause. The proximate cause is the efficient cause, the one that necessarily sets the other causes in operation. The causes that are merely incidental or instruments of a superior or controlling agency are not the proximate causes and the responsible ones, though they may be nearer in time to the result It is only when the causes are independent of each other that the nearest is, of course, to be charged with the disaster. 615. See, also, IMMEDIATE (CAUSE.) Proximate damages. See DAMAGES.