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 attributed

Similarly, the messages from Saudi Arabia and Yemen were attributed generically to the “mujahideen” in both countries.
Murder Vids Help ISIS Lure More Monsters|Thomas Joscelyn|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is also attributed to new styles from younger designers like Bouchra Jarrar.
What’s Haute, What’s Not: The Meaning of Modern Couture|Liza Foreman|July 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The authors collected data related to 54 different causes of death that could be attributed to alcohol, both chronic and acute.
Excessive Drinking Kills 1 in 10 Americans|Russell Saunders|June 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He attributed the problem to trip cancellations, changed itineraries, and a big fall-off in new bookings.
Thailand’s Non-Coup Coup|Lennox Samuels|May 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In the past, the VA attributed wait time problems to lack of training and employee misunderstandings.
Did the VA Pay Out Bonuses for Screwing Veterans?|Jacob Siegel|May 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She had attributed to Sloane, in her uneasiness, the motive which would have been most natural to the discarded Webster.
No Clue|James Hay
At least it seemed so to Helen, who attributed the curtness to Hester's being hurt at being asked such a question.
Hester's Counterpart|Jean K. Baird
Such was our first exploit in Italy; all the fault of which was attributed to Catinat.
The Memoirs of Louis XIV., His Court and The Regency, Complete|Duc de Saint-Simon
This is to be attributed to the Celerity with which she writes!
The Letters of the Duke of Wellington to Miss J. 1834-1851|Duke of Wellington
A part of this only can be attributed to the terrible explosion of 1917.
Catastrophe and Social Change|Samuel Henry Prince

British Dictionary definitions for attributed

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