Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

ascribe

 - 7 dictionary results

as⋅cribe

  [uh-skrahyb]
Use ascribe in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), -cribed, -crib⋅ing.
1. to credit or assign, as to a cause or source; attribute; impute: The alphabet is usually ascribed to the Phoenicians.
2. to attribute or think of as belonging, as a quality or characteristic: They ascribed courage to me for something I did out of sheer panic.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME < L ascrībere, equiv. to a- a- 5 + scrībere to scribe 2 ; r. ME ascrive < MF. See shrive

Related forms:
a⋅scrib⋅a⋅ble, adjective

Synonyms:
1. See attribute.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To ascribe
as·cribe   (ə-skrīb')   
tr.v.   as·cribed, as·crib·ing, as·cribes

  1. 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.

  2. 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.]
a·scrib'a·ble adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Main Entry:  ascribe1
Part of Speech:  v
Definition:  to infer or conjecture ownership; to consider as belonging to
Etymology:  Latin ad- + scribere 'to write'
Usage:  transitive; used with to
Main Entry:  ascribe2
Part of Speech:  v
Definition:  to attribute to a cause or source
Etymology:  Latin ad- + scribere 'to write'
Usage:  transitive; used with to
Main Entry:  ascribe3
Part of Speech:  v
Definition:  to write into; to add in writing
Etymology:  Latin ad- + scribere 'to write'
Usage:  transitive; used with to
Main Entry:  ascribe4
Part of Speech:  v
Definition:  to count; to enter into an account
Etymology:  Latin ad- + scribere 'to write'
Usage:  transitive; used with to
Dictionary.com's 21st Century Lexicon
Copyright © 2003-2009 Dictionary.com, LLC
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

ascribe 
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).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see ascribe on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way