- at|trib´u|tor
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–v.t.1. to think of as caused by; regard as an effect or product of: »
We attribute Edison's success to intelligence and hard work. She attributes her great age to a carefully planned diet.
2. to think of as belonging or appropriate (to): »We attribute courage to the lion and cunning to the fox. This play is attributed to Shakespeare.
–n.1. an object considered appropriate to a person, rank, or office; symbol: »The eagle was the attribute of Jupiter.
2. a quality considered as belonging to a person or thing; characteristic: »Patience is an attribute of a good teacher.
SYNONYM(S): trait, property.3. an adjective, or any word or phrase used as an adjective.4. Logic. that which may be predicated of a subject.╂[< Latin attribūtus, past participle of attribuere to associate < ad- to + tribuere assign; (originally) divide among the tribes < tribus tribe]–at|trib´ut|a|ble, adjective.–at|trib´ut|er,–at|trib´u|tor, noun.Synonym Study transitive verb. 2 Attribute, ascribe mean to consider something as belonging or due to someone or something, and are often interchangeable. But attribute suggests believing something appropriate to a person or thing or belonging to it by nature or right: »We attribute importance to the words of great men.
Ascribe suggests guessing or basing a conclusion on evidence and reasoning: »I ascribe your failure to your lack of interest.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.
