To attribute to a specified cause, source, or origin: "Other people ascribe his exclusion from the canon to an unsubtle form of racism"(Daniel Pinchbeck). See Synonyms at attribute.
To assign as a quality or characteristic: was quick to ascribe jealousy to her critics.
[Middle English ascriben, from Old French ascrivre, from Latin ascrībere : ad-, ad- + scrībere, to write; see skrībh- in Indo-European roots.]
16c. restored spelling of M.E. ascrive (c.1340), from O.Fr. ascrivre "to attribute, inscribe," from L. ascribere "to write in, to add to in a writing," from ad- "to" + scribere "to write" (see script).
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.
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.
At*trib"ute\ ([a^]t"tr[i^]*b[=u]t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attributed; p. pr. & vb. n. Attributing.] [L. attributus, p. p. of attribuere; ad + tribuere to bestow. See Tribute.] To ascribe; to consider (something) as due or appropriate (to); to refer, as an effect to a cause; to impute; to assign; to consider as belonging (to). We attribute nothing to God that hath any repugnancy or contradiction in it. --Abp. Tillotson. The merit of service is seldom attributed to the true and exact performer. --Shak. Syn: See Ascribe.
Im*pute"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Imputed; p. pr. & vb. n. Imputing.] [F. imputer, L. imputare to bring into the reckoning, charge, impute; pref. im- in + putare to reckon, think. See Putative.]1. To charge; to ascribe; to attribute; to set to the account of; to charge to one as the author, responsible originator, or possessor; -- generally in a bad sense. Nor you, ye proud, impute to these the fault, If memory o'er their tomb no trophies raise. --Gray. One vice of a darker shade was imputed to him -- envy. --Macaulay. 2. (Theol.) To adjudge as one's own (the sin or righteousness) of another; as, the righteousness of Christ is imputed to us. It was imputed to him for righteousness. --Rom. iv. 22. They merit Imputed shall absolve them who renounce Their own, both righteous and unrighteous deeds. --Milton. 3. To take account of; to consider; to regard. [R.] If we impute this last humiliation as the cause of his death. --Gibbon. Syn: To ascribe; attribute; charge; reckon; consider; imply; insinuate; refer. See Ascribe.
Scribe\ (skr[imac]b), n. [L. scriba, fr. scribere to write; cf. Gr. ska`rifos a splinter, pencil, style (for writing), E. scarify. Cf. Ascribe, Describe, Script, Scrivener, Scrutoire.]1. One who writes; a draughtsman; a writer for another; especially, an offical or public writer; an amanuensis or secretary; a notary; a copyist. 2. (Jewish Hist.) A writer and doctor of the law; one skilled in the law and traditions; one who read and explained the law to the people.
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