attribute
verbUK /əˈtɹɪb.juːt/ · US /əˈtɹɪbˌjut/
Etymology Borrowed from Latin attributus.
1
To ascribe (something) to a given cause, reason etc.; to affix.
- For as this is the liquor of modern historians, nay, perhaps their muse, if we may believe the opinion of Butler, who attributes inspiration to ale, it ought likewise to be the potation of their readers, since every book ought to be read with the same spirit and in the same manner as it is writ.1749, Henry Fielding, chapter I, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book IV:
2
To associate ownership or authorship of (something) to someone.
- This poem is attributed to Browning.
- We attribute nothing to God that hath any repugnancy or contradiction in it.1664, John Tillotson, “Sermon I. The Wisdom of Being Religious. Job XXVIII. 28.”, in The Works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Late Lord Archbishop of Canterbury: […], London: […] B. Aylmer, […]; [a]nd W. Rogers, […], published 1696, →OCLC:
2 more examples
- It is to be recouered, but that the merit of ſeruice is ſeldom attributed to the true and exact performer, I would haue that drumme or another, or hic iacet.c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene vi], page 244, column 1:
- Hākim's atypical actions should not be attributed to Islam as much as to insanity, which eventually led him to proclaim himself as Allah, whereupon he was murdered by outraged fellow Muslims.2009, Diarmaid MacCulloch, A History of Christianity, Penguin, published 2010, page 278:
- Synonyms
- refer
- Derived terms
- attributability, attributable, attributed arms, attributee, attributer, attribution, misattribute, reattribute, unattributability