attribute

[ verb uh-trib-yoot; noun a-truh-byoot ]

/ verb əˈtrɪb yut; noun ˈæ trəˌbyut /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR attribute ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), at·trib·ut·ed, at·trib·ut·ing.

to regard as resulting from a specified cause; consider as caused by something indicated (usually followed by to): She attributed his bad temper to ill health.

to consider as a quality or characteristic of the person, thing, group, etc., indicated: He attributed intelligence to his colleagues.

to consider as made by the one indicated, especially with strong evidence but in the absence of conclusive proof: to attribute a painting to an artist.

to regard as produced by or originating in the time, period, place, etc., indicated; credit; assign: to attribute a work to a particular period; to attribute a discovery to a particular country.

noun

something attributed as belonging to a person, thing, group, etc.; a quality, character, characteristic, or property: Sensitivity is one of his attributes.

something used as a symbol of a particular person, office, or status: A scepter is one of the attributes of a king.

Grammar. a word or phrase that is syntactically subordinate to another and serves to limit, identify, particularize, describe, or supplement the meaning of the form with which it is in construction. In the red house, red is an attribute of house.

Fine Arts. an object associated with or symbolic of a character, office, or quality, as the keys of St. Peter or the lion skin of Hercules.

Philosophy. (in the philosophy of Spinoza) any of the essential qualifications of God, thought and extension being the only ones known.Compare mode¹(def 4b).

Logic. (in a proposition) that which is affirmed or denied concerning the subject.

Obsolete. distinguished character; reputation.

Nearby words

Origin of attribute

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin attribūtus allotted, assigned, imputed to (past participle of attribuere), equivalent to at- at- + tribū- (stem of tribuere to assign (to tribes), classify, ascribe; see tribe) + -tus past participle suffix

Related forms

at·trib·ut·a·ble, adjectiveat·trib·ut·er, at·trib·u·tor, nounmis·at·trib·ute, verb, mis·at·trib·ut·ed, mis·at·trib·ut·ing.non·at·trib·ut·a·ble, adjective

re·at·trib·ute, verb (used with object), re·at·trib·ut·ed, re·at·trib·ut·ing.un·at·trib·ut·a·ble, adjectiveun·at·trib·ut·a·bly, adverbun·at·trib·ut·ed, adjectivewell-at·trib·ut·ed, adjective

Synonym study

1. Attribute, ascribe, impute imply definite origin. Attribute and ascribe are often used interchangeably, to imply that something originates with a definite person or from a definite cause. Ascribe, however, has neutral implications; whereas, possibly because of an association with tribute, attribute is coming to have a complimentary connotation: to ascribe an accident to carelessness; to attribute one's success to a friend's encouragement. Impute has gained uncomplimentary connotations, and usually means to accuse or blame someone or something as a cause or origin: to impute an error to him. 5. See quality.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for attributable

While all these deaths are not attributable to ISIS alone, ISIS is identified as the primary actor.
ISIS’s Gruesome Muslim Death Toll|Dean Obeidallah|October 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This and other excellent results are attributable to several changes in the political structure of policing.
Prosecuting Officer Wilson Won't Bring Justice to Ferguson|Candace McCoy|August 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And this appears to be attributable, at least in part, to the fact that Mortenson had secrets he wanted to protect.
Is It Time to Forgive Greg Mortenson?|Jon Krakauer|April 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Part of that is attributable to differences in life choices and family circumstances, but not all.
Wisconsin’s Repeal of Equal Pay Rights Adds to Battles for Women|Michelle Goldberg|April 7, 2012|DAILY BEAST

M.H.M. Vlak, et al. “Trigger Factors and Their Attributable Risk for Rupture of Intracranial Aneurysms.”
Can Coffee Save Your Life?|Anneli Rufus|October 28, 2011|DAILY BEAST
The error is attributable to one of two causes; an ambition to 'gild refined gold,' or unpardonable carelessness.
The Knickerbocker, Vol. 22, No. 5, November 1843|Various
It can only be attributable to that sublimated coquette Nature herself, who provides those little goods the gods deny.
Los Gringos|H. A. (Henry Agustus) Wise
To the inadequate comprehension of this psychological truth is attributable the failure of the Cubists and of Delaunay.
Modern Painting, Its Tendency and Meaning|Willard Huntington Wright
They were to a considerable extent not attributable to one man, but were the bright sayings of the day.
The Handbook of Conundrums|Edith B. Ordway
This is attributable to the lack or scarcity of suitable building-places.
Nests and Eggs of Birds of The United States|Thomas G. Gentry

British Dictionary definitions for attributable

attribute

verb (əˈtrɪbjuːt)

(tr usually foll by to) to regard as belonging (to), produced (by), or resulting (from); ascribe (to)to attribute a painting to Picasso

noun (ˈætrɪˌbjuːt)

a property, quality, or feature belonging to or representative of a person or thing

an object accepted as belonging to a particular office or position

grammar

an adjective or adjectival phrase
an attributive adjective

logic the property, quality, or feature that is affirmed or denied concerning the subject of a proposition

Derived Formsattributable, adjectiveattributer or attributor, nounattribution (ˌætrɪˈbjuːʃən), noun

Word Origin for attribute

C15: from Latin attribuere to associate with, from tribuere to give

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for attributable (1 of 3)

attributable

adj.

1660s, from attribute (v.) + -able.

Word Origin and History for attributable (1 of 3)

attribute

late 14c., "assign, bestow," from Latin attributus, past participle of attribuere "assign to, add, bestow;" figuratively "to attribute, ascribe, impute," from ad- "to" + tribuere "assign, give, bestow" (see tribute). Related: Attributed; attributing.

Word Origin and History for attributable (2 of 3)

attribute

"quality ascribed to someone," late 14c., from Latin attributum "anything attributed," noun use of neuter of attributus (see attribute (v.)). Distinguished from the verb by pronunciation.

attribute

verb (used with object), at·trib·ut·ed, at·trib·ut·ing.

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of attribute

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for attributable

British Dictionary definitions for attributable

attribute

verb (əˈtrɪbjuːt)

noun (ˈætrɪˌbjuːt)

Word Origin for attribute

Word Origin and History for attributable (1 of 3)

attributable

Word Origin and History for attributable (1 of 3)

attribute

Word Origin and History for attributable (2 of 3)

attribute