attribute
[verb uh-trib-yoot; noun a-truh-byoot]
- 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.
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- 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.
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Origin of attribute
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. 2018
Related Words
detectable, identifiable, attributable, owed, matured, mature, unsettled, trackable, comeuppance, due, outstanding, overdue, payable, accountable, derivative, verifiable, ascribable, referable, available, determinableExamples from the Web for attributable
Contemporary Examples
While all these deaths are not attributable to ISIS alone, ISIS is identified as the primary actor.
This and other excellent results are attributable to several changes in the political structure of policing.
And this appears to be attributable, at least in part, to the fact that Mortenson had secrets he wanted to protect.
Part of that is attributable to differences in life choices and family circumstances, but not all.
M.H.M. Vlak, et al. “Trigger Factors and Their Attributable Risk for Rupture of Intracranial Aneurysms.”
Historical Examples
This is attributable to the neglect and exposure which are far too often their lot.
Cattle and Their DiseasesRobert Jennings
This was, of course, attributable to the difference in their food and drink.
The Story of a Cannoneer Under Stonewall JacksonEdward A. Moore
To this cause in no small degree were the delays of 1868 and 1869 attributable.
The Story of the First Trans-Continental RailroadW. F. Bailey.
The reason to which these blessings are attributable, is consideration for the elect.
Commentary on Genesis, Vol. IIMartin Luther
Is it true that her illness is attributable to nursing those people?
MacariaAugusta Jane Evans Wilson
attribute
- (tr usually foll by to) to regard as belonging (to), produced (by), or resulting (from); ascribe (to)to attribute a painting to Picasso
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- 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
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Word Origin
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
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Word Origin and History for attributable
attribute
v.
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.
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attribute
n.
"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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper