attribute

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

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.

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 formsat·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, adjectivere·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 attribute

Contemporary Examples of attribute

We attribute his successes or failures to the presence or lack of some special sauce that he does or does not possess.
The Dems’ Midterm Performance Anxiety
Michael Tomasky
October 31, 2014
Sure, Nancy has the fish-out-of-water thing going on, but that attribute often defines Piper.
Orange Is the New Weeds: The Adventures of Jenji Kohan Across the 8th Dimension
Rich Goldstein, Emily Shire
August 18, 2014
On the other hand, he has retained an attribute reminiscent of the other ex-fundies.
Frank Schaeffer, the Atheist Who Believes in God
Nick Tabor
August 3, 2014
We attribute no special merit to a man for having served when all were serving.
The Real Memorial Day: Oliver Wendell Holmes's Salute To A Momentous American Anniversary
Malcolm Jones
May 26, 2014
As with the Deep South, you could attribute this to ideology or cultural difference.
Whites in the Deep South: Are They Partisan, or Just Racist?
Jamelle Bouie
February 26, 2014

Historical Examples of attribute

The right to exclude any or all classes of aliens is an attribute of sovereignty.
Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents
Grover Cleveland
I am afraid that you are apt to attribute to the wonderful what was but natural weakness.
Balsamo, The Magician
Alexander Dumas
But to attribute to Chaucer the fourth line of the Envoy seems hazardous.
Chaucer's Works, Volume 1 (of 7) -- Romaunt of the Rose; Minor Poems
Geoffrey Chaucer
To this circumstance Lagrange was in after life accustomed partly to attribute his own fame and happiness.
Self-Help
Samuel Smiles
Indeed, form is not an attribute of matter; it is an element of the combination.
Plotinos: Complete Works, v. 3
Plotinos (Plotinus)

British Dictionary definitions for attribute

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 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.

"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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Origin of attribute

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for attribute

Contemporary Examples of attribute

Historical Examples of attribute

attribute

verb (əˈtrɪbjuːt)

noun (ˈætrɪˌbjuːt)

Word Origin for attribute