Impute - Definitions from Dictionary.com

7 results for: Impute

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

im·pute

Audio Help [im-pyoot] Pronunciation Key

–verb (used with object), -put·ed, -put·ing.

1.	to attribute or ascribe: The children imputed magical powers to the old woman.

2.	to attribute or ascribe (something discreditable), as to a person.

3.	Law. to ascribe to or charge (a person) with an act or quality because of the conduct of another over whom one has control or for whose acts or conduct one is responsible.

4.	Theology. to attribute (righteousness, guilt, etc.) to a person or persons vicariously; ascribe as derived from another.

5.	Obsolete. to charge (a person) with fault.

[Origin: 1325–75; ME imputen < L imputāre, equiv. to im- im-¹ + putāre to assess, reckon, think; see putative

]

—Related forms

im·put·a·ble, adjective

im·put·a·tive

Audio Help [im-pyoo-tuh-tiv] Pronunciation Key, adjective

im·put·a·tive·ly, adverb

im·put·a·tive·ness, noun

im·put·ed·ly, adverb

im·put·er, noun

—Synonyms 1. See attribute.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Impute

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

im·pute Audio Help (ĭm-pyōōt') Pronunciation Key
tr.v. im·put·ed, im·put·ing, im·putes

To relate to a particular cause or source; attribute the fault or responsibility to: imputed the rocket failure to a faulty gasket; kindly imputed my clumsiness to inexperience.
To assign as a characteristic; credit: the gracefulness so often imputed to cats. See Synonyms at attribute.

[Middle English imputen, from Old French emputer, from Latin imputāre : in-, in; see in-² + putāre, to settle an account; see pau-² in Indo-European roots.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
impute

c.1375, from O.Fr. imputer, from L. imputare "to reckon, account, charge, ascribe," from in- "upon" + putare "reckon, clear up, trim, prune, settle."

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

impute
verb
1.	attribute or credit to; "We attributed this quotation to Shakespeare"; "People impute great cleverness to cats"
2.	attribute (responsibility or fault) to a cause or source; "The teacher imputed the student's failure to his nervousness"

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: im·pute
Pronunciation: im-'pyüt
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: im·put·ed; im·put·ing
1 : to consider or calculate as a value or cost (as for taxation); broadly : to reckon as an actual thing <impute a benefit from the use of the car>
2 in the civil law of Louisiana : to direct (payment) to principal or interest
3 : to attribute to a party esp. because of responsibility for another<impute knowledge to his corporate superior> —im·pu·ta·tion /"im-py&-'tA-sh&n/ noun

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Impute

As*cribe"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ascribed; p. pr. & vb. n. Ascribing.] [L. ascribere, adscribere, to ascribe; ad + scribere to write: cf. OF. ascrire. See Scribe.]

1. To attribute, impute, or refer, as to a cause; as, his death was ascribed to a poison; to ascribe an effect to the right cause; to ascribe such a book to such an author.

The finest [speech] that is ascribed to Satan in the whole poem. --Addison.

2. To attribute, as a quality, or an appurtenance; to consider or allege to belong.

Syn: To Ascribe, Attribute, Impute.

Usage: Attribute denotes, 1. To refer some quality or attribute to a being; as, to attribute power to God. 2. To refer something to its cause or source; as, to attribute a backward spring to icebergs off the coast. Ascribe is used equally in both these senses, but involves a different image. To impute usually denotes to ascribe something doubtful or wrong, and hence, in general literature, has commonly a bad sense; as, to impute unworthy motives. The theological sense of impute is not here taken into view.

More than good-will to me attribute naught. --Spenser.

Ascribes his gettings to his parts and merit. --Pope.

And fairly quit him of the imputed blame. --Spenser.

On-line Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

impute

impute: in CancerWEB's On-line Medical Dictionary

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